The Book of the Courtier (Castiglione’s Guide for the Renaissance Man)

For a classroom friendly version of this primary source document, visit:: #CivicHumanism Baldassare Castiglione wrote the Book of the Courtier in order to advise young men how to win the favor of a ruler and become his trusted advisor. He believed that the courtier should be a fighting man, but also one who is well-rounded and learned in the Greek and Roman classics. The Book of the Courtier, like Machiavelli’s The Prince, is a work of civic humanism, using the classics to prepare for effective performance in political life. This lecture will be helpful to students preparing for the AP European History exam, as well as students who are taking Western Civilization courses and specialized courses in the Renaissance.