Sommario
Volume 10 of J.-C.-L.
Simonde de Sismondi's Storia delle repubbliche italiane dei secoli di mezzo examines the political and cultural landscape of 15th-century Italian republics, focusing on the pontificate of Nicholas V, the conspiracy of Stefano Porcari, and the deposition of Francesco Foscari in Venice. It contrasts the decline of political liberty and civic virtues with the flourishing of literary and scholarly pursuits, highlighting the era's intellectual giants like Guarini and Valla. The text critiques the disconnect between the servile erudition of the time and the lack of original political thought, reflecting on the social and moral decay amidst cultural advancements.