cover of episode Is the Renaissance a Myth?

Is the Renaissance a Myth?

2025/2/25
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Gone Medieval

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A
Ada Palmer
E
Eleanor Janega
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@Eleanor Janega : 我与芝加哥大学文艺复兴历史学家@Ada Palmer 博士探讨了文艺复兴的复杂性。我们挑战了文艺复兴是黄金时代的观念,揭示了它实际上是一个动荡不安、医学衰退和权力斗争不断的时期。我们将探讨为什么我们会讲述这些故事,谁从中受益,以及我们对辉煌黄金时代的简单叙事如何掩盖了早期现代时期缓慢展开的惊人创新。 我们讨论了文艺复兴时期的艺术赞助,以及它如何主要发生在富裕的城市和宫廷之间,而非广泛传播到所有社会阶层。我们还探讨了文艺复兴时期医学的倒退,以及它如何比中世纪时期更糟糕。 此外,我们还讨论了文艺复兴时期的教皇,以及他们如何比中世纪的教皇更加腐败和好战。文艺复兴时期的教皇们为了建造华丽的梵蒂冈,挥霍了大量的金钱,最终导致了赎罪券的销售。 最后,我们总结了文艺复兴并非一个简单的进步故事,而是一个充满复杂性和矛盾的时期。文艺复兴时期的进步是建立在中世纪的基础上的,是一个长期积累和发展的过程,而非突然的飞跃。 Ada Palmer: 文艺复兴的说法本身就是一种宣传,它试图将特定时期与其他时期区分开来。文艺复兴的定义在不同学科之间差异巨大,这表明它并非一个客观存在的历史时期。 文艺复兴的叙事是一种简化的、用来推销艺术的宣传。它忽略了文艺复兴时期存在的政治动荡、医学倒退和权力斗争等负面因素。文艺复兴的文化传播主要发生在富裕的城市和宫廷之间,而非广泛传播到所有社会阶层。 文艺复兴时期的医学水平并未进步,反而比中世纪更糟糕。人们对文艺复兴的评价往往带有主观性,喜欢的东西就认为是文艺复兴的产物,不喜欢的东西就认为是中世纪的遗留。 文艺复兴时期的教皇比中世纪的教皇更加腐败和好战,他们为了个人利益和权力,发动了战争,并进行腐败行为。 历史并非简单的进步故事,文艺复兴时期也存在政治动荡、医学倒退等负面因素。文艺复兴的进步是一个长期持续的过程,而非一蹴而就。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter introduces the concept of the Renaissance as propaganda, highlighting its ambiguous timeline and the varying interpretations among different academic fields. It challenges the conventional narrative of a clear-cut transition from a "dark" Middle Ages to a glorious Renaissance.
  • The Renaissance is presented as propaganda, lacking a precise definition across disciplines.
  • The narrative of a sharp contrast between the Middle Ages and Renaissance is challenged.
  • The Renaissance is characterized by its ambiguity and vagueness.

Shownotes Transcript

Dr. Eleanor Janega reveals the darker side of the Renaissance with Dr. Ada Palmer, challenging the notion that it was a golden age, exposing it as a period of political instability, medical decline, and relentless power struggles. From the propaganda of the era to the destructive reign of Renaissance popes, Eleanor and Ada hugely enjoy dissecting the complexities and darker realities that belie the glorified stories of the Renaissance while contrasting it with the misconceived 'dark' Middle Ages.

Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Edited by Amy Haddow, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

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