The Role Of Individualism In The Italian Renaissance

In medieval Europe, rural life was governed by a system of feudalism however with the introduction of agriculture this life began to change. “As a result, during the 11th century, the commercial economy began to develop once more, stimulating urban growth and the revival of trade (Gilbert, chapter 1)”. In these new centers of urban life, trade signaled the re-introduction of contact between previously isolated nations. This revival is the start of a cultural movement called the Renaissance, which started in Italy and then spread to its neighboring states. Although the Renaissance was widespread, it is best to understand it as a movement cultural development rather than one associated with social or economic change. Similar to the ‘trickle-down
effect’, the movement occurred in the center of city-states where only those fairly well off; the came to enjoy the ‘fruits’ of the Renaissance while those not well off; the lower class were unable too completely participate in this movement, instead only coming into slight contact. However this slight contact was enough to pique the interest of the lower class, underlining the introduction of even more social inequalities, which further solidified positions of economic and social subordination. In the text, The Renaissance in the Fields, the peasant Benedetto offers a different perspective of the Renaissance and it’s affects on those living just outside city-state walls and like so many others desired freedom.

“Benedetto’s two little books reveal the spreading power of literate culture associated with the Italian Renaissance, a power so keen that even a small-time farmer felt obliged to participate in it, bringing some small fragment of the refined culture of the Renaissance into the callused hands of a man of the fields” (XV).
Although away from the center of the Renaissance, the influence of humanism was seen amongst the lower class. Ideals placing emphasis on human values, human potential, achievement and individualism in hopes of a better, more ethical life were fairly unanimous amongst all citizens. Distinctions separating the middle class turned elite and the lower class were evident however with the re-learning of classics, literacy in both reading and writing itself was a tool in which solidified these barriers of social immobility. “To acquire, let alone indulge, such sophisticated tastes required money, for education in so many disciplines and interests, even if superficial, took time, and no one could patronize the arts without wealth” (Plumb
17).

Despite society working against the lower class in almost every way imaginable, Benedetto and others in similar situations thought that perhaps through the attainment of literacy this could act as a way to escape these status restrictions. However escaping these restrictions was fair more complex due to the fact that during the 15th century peasants still worked land managed by landlords whom they then rented said land and split the cost of their produce (Balestracci 15). Sharecropping was highly exploitative and created this ‘cycle of poverty’ where peasants, unless at least those semi-illiterate were dependent on those with more power. The account book, although recording mundane events centered on purchases bought and other things involving sharecropping, indicates how much of shrewd businessman Benedetto was able to become in order to protect his land and income. Practices such as this were common in the age of a booming commercial industry as well as a major banking. As we learnt in class from the Paolo da Certaldo’s text Book of Good Practices, if you wanted to be ahead and make a profit you had to continuously be aware of everything in order not to be cheated. By maintaining documentation of your receipts this offers an individual both authority and protection. The authority to be able to self govern yourself without the reliance on others who would then assert power of you and the protection to shield yourself from any anger or exploitation. From a sharecropper to a landowner, Benedetto reflects the possibility of slightly elevated social and economic status in the countryside. An example being, “Benedetto and his sons developed the sale of wine into an important business” (75). In addition to taking part in several business ventures such as maintaining a limekiln and buying livestock and even renting land reflects the numerous attempts to stay afloat financially and out of debt (Balestracci 75,77).

Although the life of a farmer wasn’t by any means glamorous, clothing and overall appearance were still seen as symbols of status.
When one thinks of the lower class images of poverty are assumed that their home lives were very unclean, but in fact that was not always the case. Benedetto’s family challenges such a stereotype, “they sought a proper “external image” through clothes they wore, the objects they used and the furniture they bought” (29). Also through his account book, it becomes apparent that Benedetto and his family were slightly better off than their neighbors as the reader later on learns that they had a couple animals and even a stable (Balestracci 77). Similar to urban life, marriages acted as economic and social arrangements. Daughters were seen as a burden because this meant acquiring already limited funds for a dowry. However, despite this women in the village still played very active roles in helping out with farming and other jobs to bring in money. Understandably, the family was a source of immense security in both urban and rural life. In order to maintain the family, parents carefully arranged marriages, often to improve business or family ties. In the countryside,” rural unions result from a calculation of reciprocal advantage more than form falling in love, roughly as they did in cities”
(68).

In looking at the Renaissance from the perspective of individuals excluded from cultural sources of power, e.g. education and literacy and as a result unable to fully participate in this cultural movement. With the help of Benedetto’s account book the daily lives of ordinary Italians during the Renaissance is depicted as a place where the possibility of escaping social restrictions were cherished and challenged. Challenged by the fact Benedetto and others established and exercised authority through the agriculture industry working and possibly owning land. In addition, maintaining contracts and partnerships to create strategic economic and social power within the boundaries of the lower class.