Behavior of the Rich and Powerful, Past and Present

3 Credits

Through the study of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century courtesy literature, in this course we explore the various forms of behavior of the rich and powerful of the Italian Renaissance, an era that is much closer to our contemporary world than we might initially think, especially in regard to the way political and influential figures act in social situations and the image of themselves they present to others. What can we learn from observing and comparing the behavior of the rich and powerful of the past and present? In the public arena of these two worlds, does appearance matter more than truth?