How To Academy Podcast Historian and Novelist Ada Palmer - Was the Renaissance Really a Golden Age?
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Feb 22, 2025 Ada Palmer, a novelist, composer, and historian of ideas, takes listeners on an enlightening journey through the Renaissance. She challenges the notion of this period as a mere 'golden age,' exploring its dark undercurrents and societal struggles. From the rise of the Medici to the paradoxical advances in medicine amid rampant mortality, Palmer reveals riveting stories of power, loyalty, and sacrifice. She also discusses how her historical research informs her speculative fiction, blending captivating tales with the complex realities of history.
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COVID and the Renaissance
- During COVID, reporters asked Renaissance scholars if COVID would cause a boom like the Black Death supposedly caused the Renaissance.
- Ada Palmer realized this question needed a detailed answer due to its flawed assumptions.
Renaissance as Propaganda
- The Renaissance is often viewed as a golden age, but this idea is propaganda used to justify political actions.
- This "golden age" concept allows one to claim their actions will usher in a new era of prosperity while rivals represent a dark age.
The Term Renaissance
- The term "Renaissance" itself implies a golden age, contributing to the propaganda surrounding the period.
- Historians prefer terms like "early modern period" for accuracy, avoiding the inherent bias in "Renaissance."
