Amanda G. Madden

In this engaging discussion, Amanda G. Madden, an expert in early modern Italy, delves into the fascinating world of vendetta violence among civic elites. She reveals how this ritualized violence shaped political power and state formation, using the 1547 Modena killings as a vivid case study. Madden further highlights the unexpected roles women played in vendetta networks and discusses how these violent customs spurred legal reforms. Her insights challenge conventional views on violence, portraying it as a driving force behind governance and state evolution.