Historical superficiality: Burckhardt

Jacob Burckhardt (1818-1897) a Swiss historical man, famous for his book The civility of Renaissance in Italy, has given an interpretation of Renaissance in Italy, that very much generations have read much times, and it is certainly right, but also superficial; the first is that he spoke  and named the lords of city as tyrant, that in Greek meaning is a correspondent of manager of public things, hence the city or feud; I don’t think that Burckhardt has used this name for this sense, he wanted meant the more common meaning, so that he could stress the Renaissance change. The “tyrant” have to contrast the attacks from every side, because then Italian cities that have had fought sometime one against other, they become friends very soon and allies in conformity of political strategy, both then as today; in fact the taxes that Burckhardt  has written, were necessary to weapon and soldiers, that could betray to every moment  for a better offer; the shame of betray then there wasn’t; also because the major part of soldiers were mercenary ; inasmuch it isn’t tyranny but simple survival. The taxes were, in opinion of Burckhardt  established on the a land register, that in Middle age there wasn’t , and the major incomes was for the proprieties of lords, that were necessary to given the food to citizens that were in war, but in the city, the families of soldiers busied have to be feed, this are childes and women, that the lords have to rescue to his castle, hence the food was necessary to this duty that was alone of lord; there the taxes not paid alone the soldiers but also the common people. Other note of Burckhardt regard the office of passport, this is the pass, that today is same, this is the passport is controlled , but the difference from the Middle age today the nations are united, instead the Italy then was a gather of small states without strong; Burckhardt uses this confront for stress that then the control on the citizen was very close, but also today every state want know who is received, and the motive is same : the security of the State; it is normal management of policy. The legends are took by Burckhardt , the legendries that he has took from historical men, and they has took it from other sources that often were enemy to lords; as Bernabò Visconti(1323-1385); that was a lover of hunting and he has had  5.000 dogs, it is absolutely false, because 5.000 dogs would be impossible to keep and they would been useless, because the hunting would be in Italy and not in Africa. The celebration of Renaissance begins in chapter about the tyranny in 15th century; when the tyranny has had a human  character; a power that has consolidated on the tyranny it continues so fro keep the power; but if Burckhardt has said the celebration of Renaissance so would be failed everything.

Alessandro Lusana