Student Revision Lectures:
Renaissance Italy History 16/10/11
Social Life
in
Renaissance Florence:
Section C of the exam
– the essay
Presenter: Robyn Westwood, CAE
Area of Study: Social life in
Renaissance Italy
STARTING YOUR REVISION
• The study design should be your first point of contact when
revising for this section of the exam.
• It is essential that you know precisely what the design of the
course is and what concepts and ideas are contained in the
overall design of the course.
• The examiners will devise the questions from any part of the
wording of this Area of Study
The Study Design:
the seven essential features
1. Italian city states possessed distinct social structures shaped
by their economic and political bases.
2. These social hierarchies were reflected in many aspects of
everyday life such as dress, housing, food, entertainment
and the social map of the city based on neighbourhoods
(gonfalone).
3. Social relationships were crucial to a Florentine’s existence.
The Study Design:
the seven essential features
4. The functional view has been shaped by evidence of
conventions such as the strategic location of families within
neighbourhoods, marriage contracts/dowries and the
institutionalisation of charity.
5. Within each city people such as the urban poor, foreigners
and ‘deviants’ ( prostitutes, homosexuals, Jews) fell outside the
networks created by the dominant elite.
The Study Design:
the seven essential features
6. Means such as legislation, institutionalised charity and
festivals were used to incorporate these groups into, or exclude
them from, city life in the interests of civic harmony.
7. The nature and role of social conventions and relationships
based on location, wealth, gender, class, inclusion or exclusion
from the city’s mores.
The Study Design:
three knowledge requirements:
1. Social structures of Florence during the Renaissance.
2. Social map of Florence and how it reflected social identity,
wealth, gender and class relationships.
3. Importance of aspects of social life such as family, marriage
dowries, charity, social legislation and festivals to the life of
the city.
Note: the examiners can ask about any of these, or a mixture
of knowledge topics.
Key focus points
Family
Friends
Neighbourhood (gonfalone)
Byrne writes: “Kinsmen, neighbourhood and friends was the
underlying theme that dominated Florentine society in the
Renaissance period.”
‘Parenti, Vicini e Amici’
Family:
Brucker writes: “The obligations of kinship invariably commanded a
higher priority than did the rival claims of state or church.”
• The role of family
• relationships within the family and the idea of consultation
between family members
• Role of men
• Role of women
• Role of marriage and dowries
• Reputation of men and women
• Legitimacy of birth
• Status within society
Friends:
Alberti wrote: “nothing except virtue itself is more useful than
friendship.”
•
•
•
•
•
•
Role of friends
Importance of friendship networks
Advantages of friendship
How friendships relate to marriage and family arrangements
How friendships relate to business life
How friendships relate to political life
Neighbourhood (Gonfalone):
Lucas-Dubreton wrote of a husband who: “… desired to have his own
house in a respectable quarter so that his wife should make only
honourable acquaintances.”
• Social map of Florence
• Role and necessity of general areas and family dominated
areas
• Support
• Safety
• Identity
Other related areas?
Rituals:
• What rituals are important
• The role of ritual in society
• How Florentines engage in ritual
– The role of the Commune
– The role of guilds
– The involvement of individuals
Other related areas?
Charity:
• The role of institutionalised charity in society
• How Florentines engage in charitable activities
– The role of the Commune
– The role of confraternities and guilds
– The role of the Church and parish
– The role of individuals
Other related areas?
Social regulations/legislations
• Social mores (rules and expectations)
• Legislature about clothing/dress, especially relating to gender
• Legislature relating to social behaviour
– Deviants
– Jews
– Witches
The Essay
– There are two topics provided in this section – one is
for Florence and one is for Venice. Select one.
– Be careful to select the topic for Florence, even if you
prefer the wording of the Venice topic.
– You have 30 minutes to plan and write the essay
– Length will be expected to be at least 500 + words
(roughly about three of the script book pages – you
can write more, if time)
The Essay:
the key points of an essay
• A strong, clear introduction with a clear topic sentence to
open the discussion
• Clear topic sentences for each paragraph
• Use of evidence (examples and quotes) throughout your essay
• Argument/discussion, not narration
• A clear conclusion which summarises your discussion and
states your overall opinion
plus
RELEVANCE!
Approaching an essay topic
Refer to past exams and read the examiner’s reports
• Read all parts of the question carefully
• If there is a quote starting the topic, don’t ignore it
• Identify the key ideas or elements to be referred to in the
essay
– How many elements are there to a question? There are
usually three or more elements
– Explicit and implicit elements
– Make sure you include the key ideas which are contained
in the quote as well as the essay question.
Approaching an essay topic
• Identify the key words
– Explain …
– Discuss …
– Evaluate …
– To what extent …
• Refer to both sides of a topic – address both explicit and
implicit requirements
• Take a viewpoint, don’t just narrate information
• You can disagree with the stated opinion of the topic, or
agree and disagree in parts
The Essay:
what to do …
Do
•
•
•
•
Keep your writing succinct and direct
Identify the key elements of the topic
Ensure there is a clear argument
Always provide a quote (primary or secondary) or example to
support any assertion you make
• Explain your example or quote in relation to your idea
• Keep to the topic given
• Relate all your points directly to the given topic
The Essay:
… and what not to do
Don’t
• Ramble
• Repeat already used ideas
• Forget to support your statements and argument with
evidence
• Write on a topic you have changed to suit yourself and what
you have studied
• Ignore the quote (if supplied) and the elements of the topic it
contains
HTAV sample exam topic
2005
In his book Renaissance Europe, 1480-1520, J. R. Hale wrote ‘As far as the
individual was concerned the most important form of association was, of
course, the family.’
To what extent is this an accurate reflection of the values of Florentine
society?
What are the key words?
individuals most important
of course
values
What are other angles to be addressed?
• Friendship
• Neighbours
• Business reputation
• Political reputation
family
accurate reflection
Past themes of VCAA exam topics
•
•
•
•
2010: perceptions of what forms social identity
2009: inclusion/exclusion of all Florentines in social life
2008: neighbourhoods (gonfaloni)
2007: importance of desire for wealth, status, reputation in
social relationships
• 2006: importance of festivals + other aspects of social life
• 2005: neighbourhood /social map reflects social identity
Essay topics
In his Ricordi the Florentine merchant Giovanni Morelli advised his sons: ‘to
become familiar with the men of substance in your neighbourhood…’
Discuss how the social map of Florence reflected social identity.
(2005 VCAA exam topic)
What are some of the key words?
Social map
social identity
reflected
neighbourhood
men of substance (wealth or influence)
What are some other angles to be addressed?
• Family = basic unit, concentration of households, political and social
success
• patron-client relationships
• Protection of neighbours
• Marriage alliances
• Constructive friendships
Essay topics
When springtime comes which delights the whole world, every Florentine begins
thinking about celebrating a beautiful feast St John … You see the whole city
involved in preparing for the feast and the spirits of the youth and women involved
in such preparations …
G. Dati, ‘Ricordi’
How important was social life in Renaissance times? Discuss with references to
two or three aspects of Florentine social life that you have studied.
(2006 VCAA exam topic)
What are the key words?
Importance
social life
festivals/feasts
two or three aspects
every Florentine (men, youth and women)
What are some other angles?
• Guilds/parishes
• Neighbourhood
• Friendship
• Marriage alliances
• Business networks (patron-client associations)
Essay topics
Neri di Bicci described himself in the first page of his account book as ‘a painter,
from the parish of San Friano, the district of Drago and the quarter of Santo
Spirito’.
F.W. Kent
Was this how Florentines saw their social identity during the Renaissance?
(2010 VCAA exam topic)
What are the key words/related aspects?
Social identity
occupation
parish
What are other possible angles?
• Family
• Reputation
• Friendship
• Business networks
• Political status
neighbourhood
What should you do next?
Several things:
• Read the study design thoroughly
• Make notes with quotes, primary and secondary, for each of the
topics
• Sort out which concepts could be combined with other concepts
• Practise answering past exam questions, either under test
conditions or not
• Work towards writing practice essays in 30 minutes without notes
• Check the examiner’s report for helpful points
• Think up questions for yourself and write essays on them
• Ask your teacher to critique and mark your practice essays
Any questions?