Gülseren Onanç
In Florence’s bookstores, amidst the myriad of volumes detailing the city, the ones that captivate me the most are those recounting tales by storytellers. I am intrigued by the life in this city, the birthplace of the Renaissance, where the Enlightenment began, and the characters that shaped this era. On a round trip to Rome, a book caught my eye at a station bookstore, offering insights into Florence’s pivotal role during the Renaissance. “The Florentines” by the English author and scholar Paul Strathern explores how Florence and its inhabitants were instrumental in the Renaissance’s development and transformation.
Strathern encapsulates the era in Florence as a transformative period from Dante’s birth in 1265 to Galileo’s death in 1642, during which the fabric of Western civilization underwent a shift. This brought revolutionary changes in painting, sculpture, and architecture that heralded an irreversible evolution. Similarly, it marked a profound reshaping of Western European thought and self-awareness. It was a time when new sciences emerged or were redefined, altering the course of human progress.
He further explains how humanism flourished in Florence during this era of heightened human empowerment and value, eventually radiating across Europe. This movement, predicated on celebrating human capacity over divine authority, fundamentally altered our thought processes and propelled humanity forward. Strathern argues that this philosophical foundation paved the way for the Industrial Revolution and our current digital era from a historical viewpoint.
In present-day Florence, the architectural and engineering marvels of churches, galleries, and palaces, alongside centuries-old masterpieces of painting, sculpture, textile, and precious metal work, underscore human potential and ingenuity. It’s noteworthy that Florence also hosted a form of participatory democracy during this time. As heirs to such a groundbreaking civilization, it’s inspiring to believe we can surmount contemporary global challenges like climate change, migration, gender inequality, and poverty.
I deeply value the social contract and communal life that prevailed from the 1200s to the mid-1600s, viewing it as a potential blueprint for global advancement. We should rekindle humanism, prioritizing human intellect and potential, championing rational thought. From my perspective in Florence, extending to Turkey and the wider world, this is the essence of the narrative I aim to demonstrate.