Florence

FlorenceThe Italian Renaissance and the Revolution of Knowledge

List of recommended reference books to learn about Florence - A profound world of art, history, and literature, including da Vinci, Machiavelli, and Dante.

In our previous article, we recommended reference books for learning about Rome, Italy, and in this article, we will recommend books about Florence.

Ferenze is a city of flowers where the works of Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and other unspoken masters continue to fascinate people from all over the world.

However, it is surprisingly difficult to understand the history of Florence and how art flourished in this city.

We may know the term "Renaissance art," but when it comes to the actual nature of this art, what was the background of the period in which it reached its golden age?

The more you know about Florence, the more interesting it is! We hope you will find this article useful.
realism (as opposed to nominalism)Indian thought, culture and history

Kautilya's "Pragmatics" - Ancient Indian Machiavellianism! What a thoroughgoing imperialism that should be compared to "The Theory of Monarchs"!

Machiavelli's "The Theory of the Monarchs" is a rather gruesome treatise on power and intrigue, but this "Theory of Pragmatism" is also quite gruesome.

The commentary also states, "The author of this book describes every possible tactic a monarch should employ in order to protect his own security, increase his national power, and acquire the territory of others. The examples of espionage activities that are developed throughout the book are among the most noteworthy. In the Indian classics, espionage is given great importance, and even in later works of literature, kings who fail to make proper use of spies are condemned. The use of spies is especially carefully explained, as stated in the following passage.

Reading this book, I do not envy you at all for being born in royalty. No matter how extravagant I may be, I would respectfully give back that right. Maybe Buddha felt that way too.
Rome and DostoevskyTravels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(42) What does Dostoevsky, who criticized Roman Catholicism, think of Rome, the temple of beauty and theater city?

We have updated our Rome travelogue 41 times so far.

As I reported in the introduction to this travelogue, I toured Rome with the question, "Although Dostoevsky hated Roman Catholicism, could he not be captivated by St. Peter's Basilica, its main temple, and Bernini's stage art in Rome?

For me, I did not forget Dostoevsky for a single moment during my stay in Rome. I was always with Dostoevsky during my stay in Europe.

So what did Dostoevsky actually think of Rome during his stay?

The truth is that we do not know as Dostoevsky left nothing behind. But even so, I have come to the conclusion that Dostoevsky would have liked but disliked Rome.
Reading PragueOther Recommended Books

24 novels recommended by book-loving monks - a quick look at recommended works at each level from introductory to advanced!

In this article, we will introduce novels that we highly recommend for each level of readers, from beginners to advanced readers.

Basically, the books introduced here are all great books that I recommend with confidence. All of them are extremely interesting works, so please take a look at the linked pages for the books that interest you, regardless of whether they are categorized as introductory or advanced.
Travels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(19) Bernini's "David" - Bernini's astonishing concentration and comparison with Michelangelo's "David".

I was one of those who were drawn into Bernini's magic at the Borghese Museum. As Masumi Ishinabe, an expert in the field of art, says, David's gaze is clearly on Goliath, and you can feel that he is about to throw a stone. We can feel that he is about to throw a stone. We are witnessing that moment. Bernini's sculptures blow away our real world and force us into a fantasy, a narrative space. This narrative, this message, is the essence of Bernini's work, and he had reached this point in his early twenties. He is a genius of remarkable precocious age.
Travels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(8) The Pantheon was highly praised by Michelangelo Bernini! The highest beauty of Roman architecture is here!

The Pantheon was praised by that Michelangelo and Bernini. Michelangelo designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, and Bernini created the masterpiece Basilica San Tandrea al Quirinale, which can be considered a small pantheon.

The Pantheon, the pinnacle of ancient Roman architecture, had an enormous influence on the Renaissance.

The Pantheon, the crystallization of the wisdom of the Roman Empire. It is nothing short of astonishing that it has remained in this state since around 125 A.D. Even the Colosseum no longer looks like a ruin. Even the Colosseum looks like a ruin. In contrast, this place is still in perfect working order. One can only be stunned by the technological prowess of the Roman Empire. There is no doubt that the Pantheon is an unspeakable architectural masterpiece.
FlorenceThe Italian Renaissance and the Revolution of Knowledge

Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence - Visit the tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo

At the end of 2022, I traveled to Europe. I have been updating this blog with a travelogue titled "Dostoevsky, My Fateful Journey with My Wife: Travels in Western Europe of Madness and Love" about my experiences. I also visited Florence on that trip.

In this article, we will introduce the Basilica of Santa Croce, one of the most impressive cathedrals in Florence.

In this cathedral are the graves of eminent figures. I came to this cathedral to visit the graves of these great men. I visited the tombs of Michelangelo and Machiavelli with a strong desire to visit their graves.