The study of history is a peculiar paradox. One would think that the past is known; after all, we were there. This is technically true, but reality is not so straightforward. Even if humanity recorded every event and every thought, there would inevitably be gaps. The simple distance that grows with every passing day means that records are lost, context is forgotten, cultural norms drift, and interpreting what records do survive becomes more treacherous. Our efforts to interpret the past inevitably become part of the past which inexorably drifts into the mist. In “Inventing the Renaissance”, Ada Palmer presents a history of the Renaissance while unpacking some of the baggage around the Renaissance and histories thereof.
Though this book is the product of academic rigor, it is mercifully not an academic book. Palmer’s writing is excellent. Her tone is pleasantly conversational. This book is rich. It is charming. It is the sort of history that, were it taught in school, would inspire more people to study history.
Perhaps the most valuable thing this book provides is perspective. Zooming in on one nation, even one city, and examining their crises and controversies makes the world seem larger, more fine-grained. The events of the present recede into a vast tapestry; they become smaller, more manageable, less overwhelming. There are many lessons to be learned from history, and many of them are about the present. This book is a big heaping helping of basic human understanding. The Papal Election of 2016 (one of the later chapters) is worth the price of admission by itself, though it does kind of require reading the earlier chapters to understand.
Whether or not you care about Renaissance Italy, this book will give you greater insight and understanding about any time and place. And if you think you know anything about Machiavelli, you owe it to yourself to read it.