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HISTORY 337 |
Michael D. Gordon |
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FALL, 1996 |
/www.denison.edu/~gordonm/ |
Machiavelli and the Renaissance
The following books are available for purchase in the bookstore:
Quentin Skinner, Machiavelli (Cambridge)
Peter Bonadella (ed.), The Portable Machiavelli (Penguin)
Livy, The Early History of Rome (Penguin)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract (Penguin)
Henry Hill (trans.), The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu (Wisconsin)
In addition, the following will be available for distribution:
Desiderius Erasmus, The Education of A Christian Prince
Francesco Guicciardini, Considerations on the Discourses of Machiavelli
St. Thomas Aquinas, To the King of Cyprus
This class will be conducted as a colloquium, i.e., it will be oriented towards discussion rather than lectures. Moreover, grades will be determined on the basis of three papers. These papers will not require outside reading, but rather will deal w ith topics covered in class. For these reasons, consistent attendance, thoughtful preparation, and constructive participation are essential. My expectation is that each of you will attend every class and complete all assigned readings. Failure to meet thi s expectation will have an adverse effect on your final grade.
Papers will be due in my office at 4:00 pm on:
Friday, October 4
Friday, November 22
Friday, December 20
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September 2 |
Machiavelli and Florence |
Skinner, ch. 1; "The Private Letters" in PM |
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September 9 |
The Adviser to Princes |
"The Prince" in PM; Skinner, ch. 2 |
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September 16 |
The Christian Prince |
Aquinas, "King of Cyprus"; Erasmus, "Education of a Christian Prince" |
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September 23 |
A Case Study? |
"The Life of Castruccio Castracani" in PM |
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October 7 |
The Image of Rome |
Livy, The Early History of Rome, bks. 1-2 |
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October 14 |
The Philosopher of Liberty |
"The Discourses" in PM, pp. 167-287 |
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October 21 |
The Philosopher of Liberty |
"The Discourses" in PM, pp. 287-418; Skinner, 3 |
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October 28 |
A Case Study? |
"The Art of War" in PM |
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November 4 |
The Historian of Florence |
"The History of Florence" in PM, Skinner, ch.4 |
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November 11 |
A Different Approach |
Guicciardini, "Considerations on the Discourses of Machiavelli" |
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November 18 |
A Different Machiavelli |
"Belfagor" and "The Mandrake Root" in PM |
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December 3 |
Machiavellianism I |
The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu |
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December 10 |
Machiavellianism II |
Rousseau, The Social Contract |