Italians Before Italy: Conflict and Competition in the Mediterranean

Take a riveting tour of the Italian peninsula, from the glittering canals of Venice to the lavish papal apartments and ancient ruins of Rome. In these 24 lectures, Professor Bartlett traces the development of the Italian city-states of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, showing how the modern nation of Italy was forged out of the rivalries, allegiances, and traditions of a vibrant and diverse people. This comprehensive portrait of Italian history opens an exciting new world-a grand mosaic of lustrous and storied cultures as distinctive as the people who helped build them. As you come to know these many "Italys," you'll see how the Italian states defined themselves against the others, competing for territory, trade, and artistic supremacy - and how the vestiges of these interactions are visible even today. Among other things, you'll consider the rivalry between the Genoese and the Pisans, which stems from a nearly 800-year-old grudge; examine how the crusades influenced the development of Genoa, Pisa, and Venice; and explore Italy's troubled relationship with the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. You'll also get a glimpse into the lives of the powerful and influential, including Pope Paul IV, who championed the Roman Inquisition, and Luigi Gonzaga, who cut out the hearts of his enemies and nailed them to the doors of their palaces as a warning to others who might challenge his power. As you get to know the distinctive personalities and events that define the peninsula, you'll gain fresh insights into the Italy of today. Surprising, enriching, always engaging, this course offers a unique perspective on one of the most dynamic and creative cultures of the modern world.

All Lectures:
1. Italy - A Geographical Expression
2. The Question of Sovereignty
3. The Crusades and Italian Wealth
4. Venice - A Maritime Republic
5. The Terraferma Empire
6. Genoa, La Superba
7. Bankers and Dukes
8. Pisa
9. Christians vs. Turks in the Mediterranean
10. Rome - Papal Authority
11. Papal Ambition
12. Papal Reform
13. Naples - A Matter of Wills
14. Naples and the Threat to Italian Liberty
15. Milan and the Visconti
16. The Sforza Dynasty
17. Mantua and the Gonzaga
18. Urbino and the Montefeltro
19. Ferrara and the Este Family
20. Siena and the Struggle for Liberty
21. Florence and the Guild Republic
22. Florence and the Medici
23. The Italian Mosaic - E Pluribus Gloria
24. Campanilismo - The Italian Sense of Place