HIST 305 The Renaissance
This course will not be a chronological survey; instead it will cover the origins of the idea of the “Renaissance” and how this concept has framed Western perceptions of modernity. It will investigate the functional practicality of applying this concept to Italian culture and society between 1350 and 1550. The course has two goals: to provide an understanding of the world of the Italian Renaissance and to critique the values we have associated with that world. Students will be required to complete a major primary source-based research paper on a topic of their choosing.