Baldassare Castiglione, a diplomat and military advisor from Milan, was significantly influenced by the spread of humanism. ... He was most well-known for his guide to courtly behavior, titled Il cortegiano (The Courtier). The guide was published in 1528 in Venice and outlines how a courtier should conduct oneself, in love, war, and his pursuit of education (Kekewich 167). ... His advice to the courtier during a time of arms was to seek deserved glory, honor, and excellence, a reverberation of the Greek value of arete. ... In this book, Plato categorized the world into two realms, one of vis...

• Word Count: 2321
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Another development in the field of humanism was the courtier system, which was influenced by the interaction between humanist philosophers and the signorial courts of the city-states. These humanists began to develop ideas about the proper conduct of courtiers, or the noble men and women of the courts. In 1518, Baldassare Castiglione, the most renowned humanist involved in the courtier movement, completed the Book of Courtier, which was based on his experiences at the court of Urbino, Italy. This refined book of manners was printed in several languages and influenced the courtiers throughout ...

• Word Count: 1908
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate