Roberto Sabatino Lopez (1910–1986)

A concise history of Italy during the Renaissance. Lopez splits the Renaissance into three periods which are Youth 1454-1494, Maturity 1494-1527, and Decline 1527-1559. Youth can be marked with an interest in intellectual pursuit and the arts via patrons. During Maturity, new ideas were abundant as they were brought through trade with the expanding economy. Decline was a period of exiling and war on heterogeneity. The book consists of very short explanations and examples which include economics, politics, social structure, art, and culture.

As there were many topics to cover in such a short book, each topic was given very little space. Moving quickly from topic to topic made it very difficult to understand the situation presented. As a survey of the Renaissance, the book can provides valuable ideas to look into to for greater understanding, but the book itself does not provide the depth necessary.
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This is a short but bright overview of the development of economic opportunities in medieval Europe. I particularly liked the third chapter on the take-off of the commercial revolution, which focused mostly on Italy. Not only does the author outline the conditions which enabled new economic opportunities, but also the conditions that held them back: "economic growth could proceed no faster than the expansion of production and consumption all over Europe" (p. 83). All in all this book can definitely be recommended to readers with an interest in European economic history.… (más)