Vivian’s Site

2-  I found the quote, “Poggio understood that history has had its full measure of human folly and wickedness”, stated on page 159 particularly interesting. I find it interesting that even at this early stage of society, there was this awareness that there was corruption. Moreover, I feel as if Poggio–who happened to work closely with the pope and other higher ranking individuals speaking on the matter is even more telling since he is exposed to their behaviors and actions…

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2-  Something I found interesting was that while scribes had not directly been affiliated with the church, yet religious worship was required in order for them to maintain their jobs. On page 135 and 136, Greenblatt states, “Through scriptures were expected to attend mass every day before work, their post was a secular one –they busied themselves principally with the business side of the papacy, the side that entailed rationality, calculation, administrative skill, and legal acumen”. I believe that this…

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2-  On page 117 it states, “To them at least it did not seem obvious that the search on which they embarked was only a polite scroll onto well-trodden ground.” in regards to how Petrarch and his followers saw themselves. I found this interesting as I never thought about the possibility of certain ideas or techniques existing prior to the known creation. Moreover, I thought it was funny how egotistical and prideful these popular thinkers were of what they believed…

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I think overall, I would not change my major choice based on the results I found, however it was quite interesting to learn more about the occupations within it. 

2-  On page 92, Greenblatt states, “Rumors began to circulate that her absorption in astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy–so strange, after all, in a woman–was sinister: she must be a witch, practicing black magic.”I found it interesting how for the most part–philosophical and scientific ideas were accepted when men presented them. However, when women such as Hypatia present ideas within the same realm, they are either not acknowledged or punished. What shocks me about the situation is that the people who…

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