| Chronicling History: Chroniclers and Historians in Medieval and Renaissance Italy Contributor(s): Dale, Sharon (Editor), Lewin, Alison Williams (Editor), Osheim, Duane J. (Editor) |
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ISBN: 027103226X ISBN-13: 9780271032269 Publisher: Penn State University Press OUR PRICE: $30.64 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: January 2009 Annotation: Literally thousands of annals, chronicles, and histories were produced in Italy during the Middle Ages, ranging from fragments to polished humanist treatises. This book is composed of a set of case studies exploring the kinds of historical writing most characteristic of the period. We might expect a typical medieval chronicler to be a monk or cleric, but the chroniclers of communal and Renaissance Italy were overwhelmingly secular. Many were jurists or notaries whose professions granted them access to political institutions and public debate. The mix of the anecdotal and the cosmic, of portents and politics, makes these writers engaging to read. While chroniclers may have had different reasons to write and often very different points of view, they shared the belief that knowing the past might explain the present. Seen more broadly, chronicles are far more entertaining and informative than narratives. They become part of the very history they are describing. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Historiography - History | Europe - Medieval - History | Europe - Italy |
| Dewey: 945.007 |
| Physical Information: 1" H x 6" W x 9" (1.27 lbs) 352 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Italy - Chronological Period - Medieval (500-1453) |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Literally thousands of annals, chronicles, and histories were produced in Italy during the Middle Ages, ranging from fragments to polished humanist treatises. This book is composed of a set of case studies exploring the kinds of historical writing most characteristic of the period. We might expect a typical medieval chronicler to be a monk or cleric, but the chroniclers of communal and Renaissance Italy were overwhelmingly secular. Many were jurists or notaries whose professions granted them access to political institutions and public debate. The mix of the anecdotal and the cosmic, of portents and politics, makes these writers engaging to read. While chroniclers may have had different reasons to write and often very different points of view, they shared the belief that knowing the past might explain the present. Moreover, their audiences usually shared the worldview and civic identity of the historians, so these texts are glimpses into deeper cultural and intellectual contexts. Seen more broadly, chronicles are far more entertaining and informative than narratives. They become part of the very history they are describing. |
Contributor Bio(s): Dale, Sharon: - Sharon Dale is Associate Professor of Art History at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Dale, Sharon: - Sharon Dale is Associate Professor of Art History at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.Lewin, Alison Williams: - Alison Williams Lewin is Associate Professor of History at St. Joseph's University.Osheim, Duane J.: - Duane J. Osheim is Professor of History at the University of Virginia. |