Wege des Humanismus

The diffusion of humanism is the central theme of this book. From its origins in Italy as an intellectual / habitus /, humanism eventually grew into a European-wide educational program. In this collection of articles, Johannes Helmrath sheds light on central fields of humanist activity: rhetoric, historiography, and the nascent discipline of classical studies. A key figure is the Italian Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini (1405 -- 1464). He lived for over twenty years in Germany, in which time he played an active role at the Council of Basel and then at the Hapsburg court (until 1455). His epistles and works of history became models of Latin composition, making him the »Father of Humanism« north of the Alps. Once back in Italy he became a cardinal and then pope (Pius II, 1458 -- 1464).