The Waning of the Renaissance, 1550-1640

by William J. Bouwsma

• ISBN13: 9780300097177
• ISBN10: 0300097174
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2002-09-10
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

Historians have conventionally viewed intellectual and artistic achievement as a seamless progression in a single direction, with the Renaissance, as identified by Jacob Burckhardt, as the root and foundation of modern culture. But in this brilliant new analysis William Bouwsma rethinks the accepted view, arguing that while the Renaissance had a beginning and, unquestionably, a climax, it also had an ending.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	vi
Preface	vii
The Cultural Community of Europe	1	(19)
The Liberation of the Self	20	(15)
The Liberation of Knowing	35	(17)
The Liberation of Time	52	(15)
The Liberation of Space	67	(19)
The Liberation of Politics	86	(14)
The Liberation of Religion	100	(12)
The Worst of Times	112	(17)
Renaissance Theater and the Crisis of the Self	129	(14)
Toward a Culture of Order	143	(22)
The Reordered Self	165	(14)
The Quest for Certainty: From Skepticism to Science	179	(19)
The Decline of Historical Consciousness	198	(17)
Order in Society and Government	215	(17)
Order in Religion	232	(14)
Order in the Arts	246	(13)
Conclusion	259	(2)
Notes	261	(6)
Bibliographical Note	267	(4)
Index	271