Modern Renaissance

It is perhaps fitting and fortuitous that this is written at a time of political rebirth in the USA. It may also seem like a cheap gimic to peg onto the back of the Obama whirlwind. Whatever it seems, what the Inquisition has to say, it has to say.

Ancient History

For some time now it has been a popular Hobsbawmism to view the USA as an empire in decline. Certainly this is a tempting fallacy; When seen against a backdrop of Ancient Rome we recognise many aspects of modern American society. We se a country beset by financial difficulties as its currency becomes under-valued, its armies are engaged in endless war on the periphery of its influence, we see the propagation of cults and religions proclaiming the end of days (amongst other claims), there is much internal bitterness between the two political camps (Republican or Democrat was a major talking point in Rome too), its foreign policy and rule is strict and violent to the point of authoritarianism and is pervaded by a deep paranoia. Wars have been waged after false flag incursions, just as happened in Ostia in with Pompey blaming its burning on pirates and going on the rampage.

The Italian Renaissance

But what if this view of a callous empire is the wrong view? What if the USA is viewed in the light of an Italy almost 1500 years after the Roman heyday? The Italian Renaissance grew from such barren social soil (huh?). This was a time cruel in-fighting and wars between wealthy families and city-states such as the Medici, Borza and Venetians. Corruption was endemic, with torture and violence used to suppress anything from crime to dissidence to simply keeping people inline. The distribution of wealth was hugely unequal while wealthy heads of families, princes and Catholic bishops sat in lavish palaces. The Inquisition, which sought brutal religious intolerant rule, was started in deep-rooted paranoia, with the church fearing that its influence was not absolutely total.

These are the very conditions which bred huge cultural and scientific progress which had not been seen up to this point. In many ways it was here that history sped up. Through researching their classical ancestry artists developed an affinity with the past, just as the USA finds huge justification with heritage and tradition (from the old countries). We see the wealthy classes eager to leave a legacy and funding these advances in their name. The giant sponsorship deals of the day. This was a time of single-minded determined leadership – Machiavellianism in the truest sense. Protected artists and scientists enabled culture to bloom and flourish. In the lives of artists such as Da Vinci we see those from humble backgrounds make great achievements and social progress – it really is that most merican of ideals – that one can move upward socially on the merits of ability and societal contribution.

So?

This is why we see the USA being so successful. This is why the movies we watch come from Hollywood. This is why the most exciting writers come from this country. This is the reason for so much of what we have become globally.

Bibliography
Age of Extremes : The Short Twentieth Century 1914-1991,Eric Hobsbawm, Abacus, 1995
Roman False Flags – NY Times

This article was posted by Ronan McDonnell on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 06:58.
It is archived in Architecture, Art, History, Religion, Science and tagged Art, Culture, Obama, Religion, Renaissance, Rome, Science, USA.

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