An interdisciplinary introduction to the Renaissance in Italy illustrated by a study of the institutions, thought, politics, art, and culture that emerged in the period. Considering key sites of power and creativity like Florence, Venice, Milan, and Rome, this course will examine the dynamic new ways Renaissance Italians understood themselves, others, and the world. Taking into account the full spectrum of Renaissance culture, including constructions of gender and other emerging forms of identity, this course will address broad historical developments and explore the creative works and impact of artists like Michelangelo and Sofonisba Anguissola; architects like Brunelleschi; cultural patrons like the Medici family and Isabella d’Este; and writers like Laura Cereta and Niccolò Machiavelli.