Leonardo Bruni(1370-1444)
-born in Arezzo near Florence
- was helped by Salutati
- taught Greek by Manuel Chrysoloras.
As a Latinist
- a position in 1405 as a secretary in the papal chancery in Rome.
- 1415 returned to Florence as member of the Florentine bureaucracy.
1427 rising to the position of chancellor.
- continued Salutati's tradition of civic humanism using his intellectual skills
for the good of his community.
- urged others to "read authors who can help you not only by their subject matter,
but also by the splendor of their style and their skill in writing.
- the works of Cicero
His writings - important to the development of the discipline of history.
History of the Florentine People
-was modeled after the classic work of the Roman historian Livy.
- Bruni argued that events were the result of human not divine activity.
Bruni - translated Aristotle's Ethics and Politics and much of Plato into Latin.
Toward women
- more in keeping with the spirit of Aristotle.
Aristotle -viewed women as "defective men."
Plato - women could be admitted to the highest class in his ideal Republic
because in essence equal potential for reasoning is found in both sexes.
In Praise of the City of Florence
- lauded the freedom of the republican of government.
its capitalistic business practices.
- praised the beauty of the city.
