The Renaissance, A Global Phenomenon 

   Examine an ancient pagan past that meets with the expanding influence of Islam to propel Christian societies of Renaissance Europe towards new artistic heights and to the other side of the unknown ocean. From syncretism within the colonial art of the Americas to China and West African art, we look at early global exchange connecting creative expression with innovation and desperation. Images of our present emerge as the pioneering technologies of warfare and capitalism meet at the confluence of a public health crisis, setting in motion human ingenuity that continues to influence the cutting-edge technology of our world today, from NFTs and cryptocurrency to top-secret microbes.  


​   The optional, extended resources below offer exciting insights and engaging ideas that can amplify our horizons on this incredible era. Many links are to Amazon for audio samples and reading previews. However, all content below can be found in many libraries for free. 
Florence: The Paintings & Frescoes, 1250-1743
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Richard Stemp, The Secret Language of the Renaissance : Decoding the Hidden Symbolism of Italian Art

The Huntington Library’s Gutenberg Bible and the Art of the Book in 15th-Century Europe

The Medici (Italian Histories)
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Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
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1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus

The House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance