Notes from a presentation by Ada Palmer at Capricon 45, Chicago, Feb. 8, 2024. I have added web links where I found them helpful. Any mistakes are mine. The speaker is not responsible for any errors here.

…And other funny stories about the Renaissance.

• Centered around the 2^nd 1/2 of the 15^th century.
• Church had money and power.
• Prisoners’ dilemma about bribing
• Church had about 2/5 of the political power,
• Renaissance popes were very involved in the complicated politics, intrigues, and wars of Italy.
• Woman as COO of the princely household. For most princes this would be his wife, but not for the pope. Had to pick a sister or other connection.
• Illegitimacy was a bigger issue in England than else where, even Wales. Not a problem at all in Italy. “You can trust your illegitimate son.” Nepotism positive.
• Unique to Papacy. Elected Pope. So you had no idea who would be the successor to the current ruler, unlike other Italian ciy-states.
• Most popular, least competent vs. least popular, most competent.
• “War of the bucket”
• Venice was culturally Byzantine.
• Pope Paul II was from Venice. Followed by a Genoese pope, Francesco della Rovere, who took the name Pope Sixtus IV.
• Pope Julius II (reigned 1503-1513), the Battle Pope, also from Genoa, a nephew of Sixtus IV.
• Italian cathedrals used exotic marble, thereby showing the city’s wealth.
• Donation of Constantine
• Guelphs vs. Ghibellines
• LARP in Renaissance history class
• LGBTQIA+ Reanaissance
• “The stupid is an inescapable feature.”
• Dam breaking: The French invasion of 1494.
• Blog: Ex Urbe
• Very enthusiastic speaker. A joy to hear