Here’s a few short essay questions that have appeared in the past.

• Summarize one of Jacob Burckhardt’s theses and provide one specific example from quattrocento Italy that supports it.
• Does the ‘Cleopatra’s Nose’ theory, as explained by E.H. Carr, apply when explaining Florence as the epicenter of Renaissance culture in the quattrocento?
• Which Classical author in particular informed the architecture of Alberti and Da Vinci?
• Provide three translations (English words) of Machiavelli’s use of the word Virtù and explain how the concept was important in Machiavelli’s conception of governance.
• Castiglinoe emphasizes the power and importance of Forunta in doing a man unexpected and irreparable harm, ‘uplifting to the skies whom she pleases’ and ‘burying to the depths those most worthy of being exalted.’ What, according to Machiavelli, is the role of Fortuna in human affairs?
• Besides his buildings and paintings, what is the enduring significance of the work of Giorgio Vasari?
• Why was Dr. Simonetta’s work important for understanding the Pazzi Conspiracy?
• Define sprezzatura and explain its importance to Renaissance culture. In what Renaissance text will one find a discussion of the topic?