Siena

If scholars were to attempt to pinpoint the exact moment when Dante’s stance on Italian politics shifted towards a more distressed and discouraged perspective, his exile from Florence would be that moment. In his own words through the mouth-piece of Dante the pilgrim to his former teacher Brunetto Latini in Canto XV, Dante laments: “In the bright life above…I came into a valley and lost my way, before my age had reached its ripening time. I turned my back on the place but yesterday…” Through…

The Renaissance lasted from 1400-1700 and throughout this time period, many amazing inventions, artists and discoveries were born. One of the best artists born during the beginning of the Renaissance was Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. In the beginning of his life, it was hard for him but due to all of the hard things he had to go through, it impacted his work later in life and made his masterpieces better. Michelangelo had a hard early life but it helped him create emotional and…

discovered his talent for mathematics that soon began the journey to greater things. In 1585, Galileo gave up on the course of medicine and left without finishing his degree. He then began teaching mathematics privately in Florence, then from 1585-86 in Siena. Archimedes’ story of him and the bathtub was well known during Galileo’s time and influenced many of his methods. Galileo was a great admirer of Archimedes’ and had adapted to many of his methods, including when he timed the oscillations…

city-states were self-governed, they either joined together or fought one another. However during the 13th-15th centrury, a council was formed between all city-states During the late middle ages, some Italys city-states were Venice, Genoa, Florence, Siena, and Lucca. These city-states adopted the republican form of government like the Even those these two countries share many political differences, England and Italy faced many of the same hardships. During the years of 1348 to 1350, both Italy…

Catherine de Medici was an Italian-born, French queen who became very powerful and even more controversial during her time at the helm of France. Orphaned as an infant, used as a pawn in her family's vicious power games, saddled with an unfaithful husband, and forced to suffer the untimely deaths of several of her children, Catherine managed to maintain control of the true power of the French throne in an effort to protect her family and preserve her birthright. Her methods of doing so,…

Antigone is “a woman who defies King Creon’s edict without any fear, doubts, or regrets,” Fanny Söderbäck, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Siena College, asserts (Söderbäck 2). “This courageous woman, the fruit of incest, has fascinated philosophers in the nineteenth century, inspired playwrights in the twentieth century, and intrigued feminist thinkers and activists for decades” she continues…

Rome started as a society of small farmers located in central Italy, placing it among other civilizations within the Mediterranean basin; Etruscans, Latins, Celts, and the most influential, the Ancient Greeks. In early years, Rome acquired many cultural characteristics from the Etruscan civilization, but as Rome expanded, it came into contact with the Greeks. Since then, Greek influence has become an important element in Roman life. However, it was the Roman civilization that came to rule and…

There was once a horrifying monster that killed millions of innocent civilians by dissolving their lungs and causing their flesh to become black. It spread with deadly efficiency, killed in a matter of days, and could travel through the air. Although this may sound like a children’s horror story, this monster was a reality in Europe in the 1300s. The Black Death was a pandemic that killed just over half of Europe’s population between 1346 and 1353. Even though some argue that the Black…

Michelangelo Buonarroti, also known as "Father and Master of All the Arts", often comes to mind when the Renaissance is the topic of discussion. Michelangelo became wealthy and famous during his lifetime, from growing up with a family in the banking business, to becoming a famous figure in the Renaissance. He was a sculptor, architect, poet, and painter who always strived for perfection in all of his works. Michelangelo contributed to society by supporting the humanist movement during the…

This series of events derived from Leo’s apparent discovery of a plan to assassinate him led by a young Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci from Siena. Following a series of arrests, torture and interrogations the names of the conspirators were revealed. Petrucci and other plotters were enticed to Rome and hasty, predetermined sentences were given out. Though some were strangled, the others were…