Renaissance Rome 1500-1559: A Portrait of a Society

by Peter Partner

"Peter Partner is an established scholar, qualified by his research on The Papal State Under Martin Vand The Lands of St. Peterto write this general book on Renaissance Rome. The titles of the chapters of the book are tantalizing, and they indicate the breadth of issues under politics, economics, population, "noble life" and "daily life", and, finally, "the spirit of a city and the spirit of an age." No similar, recent study exists for Rome, and Partner's book responds to a genuine need. The book is written with wit and good style, and it contains a great deal of information . . . "--John W. O'Malley, University of Detroit, Canadian Journal of History , 13(1), pp. 115 - 116.

Genres: History, Renaissance

286 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Alyssa Palombo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather dry, but a great source of information for anyone studying/researching Rome in this period.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the unacademic form of the book (no footnotes; only a scant bibliography), it's really not for a casual audience. Assumes a high level of understanding of the nature and function of the 16th century papacy, both as a religious institution, a political actor, a patron of the arts, and an employer of vast swathes of the Roman population. Fine with me, but if you don't know what the papacy actually looked like on the ground, and what individual popes actually did, then this reads as a pretty pat apology for papal decadence, which I don't think was his intention at all.

Also contains my favourite new piece of information: the Florentine national confraternity in Rome was responsible for comforting prisoners to be executed.