Includes bibliographical references and index.

Bibliographical footnotes.

Introduction : An approach to the Renaissance / E.F. Jacob -- Italy and barbarian Europe / D. Hay -- Italian humanism in Western Europe / R. Weiss -- War and public opinion in Renaissance Italy / J.R. Hale -- The financial oligarchy in Florence under Lorenzo / L.F. Marks -- Politics and constitution in Florence at the end of the fifteenth century / N. Rubinstein -- Ludovico Sforza and his vassals / D. M Bueno de Mesquita -- The end of Malatesta rule in Rimini / P.J. Jones -- The 'budget' of the Roman Church in the Renaissance period / P. Partner -- The early Medici as patrons of art / D.H. Gombrich -- Maccabean histories in the Sistine ceiling / E. Wind -- Songs of dance and carnival / M. Bowra -- Latin verse of the high Renaissance / J. Sparrow -- Lorenzo, Machiavelli and the Italian language / C. Grayson -- An Italian astrologer at the court of Henry VII / J. Armstrong -- Archaeology and romance in Renaissance Italy / C. Mitchell -- Biographical note / J. Hale.