History Extra podcast The Renaissance: not such a golden age?
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Jun 10, 2025 Ada Palmer, a historian and author specializing in the Renaissance, joins the discussion to challenge the myth of this period as a golden age. She reveals the era's grim realities, including corrupt popes and the aftermath of the Black Death. The conversation also touches on Michelangelo's struggle with painting and Machiavelli's political complexities. By exploring the duality of artistic achievement amidst societal chaos, Palmer encourages a more nuanced understanding of the Renaissance and its influence on modern society.
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Renaissance: Glitter vs Reality
- The Renaissance is often seen as a golden age due to its art and culture, but those living through it felt it was a desperate, apocalyptic time.
- Artistic masterpieces emerged during times of intense violence, disease, and upheaval, revealing the era's complexity.
When Was The Renaissance?
- The Renaissance period's boundaries are fluid and depend on cultural and disciplinary perspectives.
- Asking when it happened reveals more about who you ask than about the era itself.
Progress Made Life Harder
- Despite progress in trade and wealth, the Renaissance witnessed plummeting life expectancy and worsening warfare.
- Improvements in society accelerated diseases and larger, deadlier conflicts, making life harsher.
