Full Description
History and Culture in Italy is a scholarly, introductory survey of the history and culture of Italy, focusing on art and architecture, literature and philosophy, politics and historical events, and observations of daily life in modern Italy. The book is based on lectures and tours given over the course of four years to American students in Italy. It is written as a narrative, which readers have found makes it enjoyable to read. Chapters are identified according to subject. The book emphasizes the importance of the history and culture of Italy to modern life and identity in Western culture.
Contents
Chapter 1 Giordano Bruno and Intellectual Rebellion Chapter 2 Venice, Vicenza and Milan Chapter 3 Paolo Portoghesi: Borromini and Postmodernism Chapter 4 Mythological Origins in Crete and the Peloponnese Chapter 5 Giuseppe Mazzini and the Risorgimento Chapter 6 Baroque Architecture in Turin Chapter 7 Primo Levi and Post-Holocaust Identity Chapter 8 Antonio Gramsci and Marxist Cultural Theory Chapter 9 Vienna and the Origins of Modernism Chapter 10 Prague: Creativity and the Subconscious Chapter 11 Giovanni Macchia: Sensuality and Modern Life Chapter 12 Futurism and the Obsession with Speed Chapter 13 Calcio and Astrology and Modern Italy Chapter 14 Silvio Berlusconi and Capitalist Politics Chapter 15 Life as Spectacle Chapter 16 Calcata: A Bohemian Alternative Chapter 17 Franco Archibugi and the Italian Language Chapter 18 Campo Marzio: The Heart of Rome Chapter 19 Genoa and the French Riviera Chapter 20 Capri and Anacapri Chapter 21 Thomas Aquinas and the Great Synthesis Chapter 22 Lorenzo Valla: Philology and Textual Criticism Chapter 23 Tommaso Camanella: Political Revolt and Utopia Chapter 24 Giambattista Vico and the Social Sciences Chapter 25 Benedetto Croce and the Philosophy of the Spirit Chapter 26 Archetypes for Mythology and Christianity in Egypt Chapter 27 Olympia: The Greek Arcadia Chapter 28 The Art Scene in Rome Chapter 29 The Villa Farnesina Chapter 30 Seneca and Stoicism Chapter 31 Constantine and Christianity Chapter 32 Cicero and the Art of Oration Chapter 33 Piazza San Pietro and the Arms of the Church Chapter 34 Classical Philosophy in the Vatican Chapter 35 Borromini: Humanism and Neoplatonism Chapter 36 The Cornaro Chapel: Spiritual and Physical Ecstasy Chapter 37 Pompeii and the Villa of the Mysteries Chapter 38 Plotinus: Plato and the Ennead Chapter 39 Saint Francis of Assisi and the Universal Spirit Chapter 40 Siena: The Renaissance that Might Have Been Chapter 41 Saint Augustine and the Christian Community Chapter 42 Leon Battista Alberti and the Modern Architect Chapter 43 The City of Florence Chapter 44 Michelangelo: Expression and Rebellion Chapter 45 The Platonic Academy Chapter 46 Sandro Botticelli and Classical Mythology Chapter 47 Pisa: Monuments to an Empire Chapter 48 Galileo and the Birth of Science Chapter 49 Umberto Eco and the Importance of Semiotics Chapter 50 Andrea Palladio and Humanist Architecture Chapter 51 Byzantine Mosaics in Ravenna Chapter 52 Giuseppe Terragni: Architecture and Politics Chapter 53 Athens and Aix-en-Provence
