The Renaissance was a time of artistic reimagination. Prior sculptures and paintings depicted the ideal person, whereas Renaissance art depicted the realistic person. To achieve realism, many painters and sculptures started using perspective and shading to add depth. They also experimented with the mathematics behind art. In this respect, the positive impact the Renaissance had … More Early Renaissance Art
Machiavelli’s The Prince has become one of the most notorious pieces of literature from the Early Renaissance. This small booklet completely refuted the moral standards set by the Renaissance humanists, and it especially refuted the moral standards pushed by Christianity. All of his anti-Christian policies can be summarized into three main points. This first point … More The Prince by Machiavelli
When debating the merits of various economic systems, the concept of private property repeatedly comes up. However, is private property a social construct or an inalienable right given by God? That is one of the questions in the debate regarding economic systems. The socialist believes private property is purely a social construct that can be … More John Locke on the Origin of Ownership
Many Greek and Roman classics start their fascinating—and often debaucherous—tales by invoking one or more gods, and Boccaccio does something similar in The Decameron. His book, which is a Renaissance classic, chronicles the stories told by ten people who survived the Black Death. With all their colleagues killed, they temporarily moved to the country for … More Why Did Boccaccio Invoke God in The Decameron?
Petrarch is often considered the father of the Renaissance. He was born into a legal family and followed in his father’s footsteps by studying law at Bologna. It was among the most prestigious universities at the time, but Petrarch was not interested in law. Frequently, poetry distracted him from his studies. On one occasion, his … More Petrarch and the Spirit of the Renaissance
The Renaissance marked a rekindled interest in Roman and Greek literature in the West. For hundreds of years, the writings of Plato and Cicero were merely footnotes in history. The West had no access to those writings, even though medieval writers frequently referenced them. Towards the end of the High Middle Ages, various scholars including … More Key Ideas of the Renaissance
Divine providence exists in history. An invisible hand guides the events of today, yesterday, and tomorrow. Anyone who looks through the pages of history can see the clear presence of this supernatural force. It is almost as if all lives are single chapters in a grander story that are all guided by this divine providence. When evaluated from a broader historical context, it becomes apparent that coincidences do not exist, and historical chaos is not accidental. … More Providence in Historical Chaos: God’s Order in the 14th-Century Crises
The Black Death (1347-1350) was a catastrophic plague that slaughtered between ¼ and ½ of the European population in the space of three years. Such lethal numbers absolutely dwarf anything any living American has witnessed, including COVID-19. To translate the Black Death’s lethality into numbers that might resonate more with the modern American, if a … More The Black Death (1347-1350)
The Little Flowers of Saint Francis chronicles the miracles of the Order of Friars Minor. As enjoyable as it is to read about the wondrous miracles in the book, Little Flowers scarcely provides the common man with any hope. Contrary to the Gospel, the book indirectly tells the layman purgatory—hellfire—is seemingly his unavoidable destiny. The … More The Little Flowers of St. Francis: Monks in Hell
The Little Flowers of St. Francis is a biographical book following the ministry of St. Francis. It focuses on the piety of the Friars Minors—the religious order Francis created—and the many miracles they did. They functioned as a monastic order without a monastery, traveling from town to town preaching the gospel. The road to salvation … More Little Flowers of St. Francis: The Road to Salvation
Asher Sisneros 