Why Leonardo was a saboteur, Gutenberg went broke, and Florence was weird – Ada Palmer

The podcast explores the Italian Renaissance, particularly the driving forces behind its emergence and impact. Ada Palmer, a Renaissance historian, discusses how the rediscovery of classical texts and the attempt to revive Roman virtues led to unexpected outcomes, including advancements in science and political thought. She argues that the creation of libraries and the subsequent widespread literacy fostered a new environment for intellectual exchange. Palmer highlights Florence's unique republican government and the Medici family's role in promoting art and culture as propaganda. The conversation also touches on the impact of the printing press, the delayed recognition of the New World, and the complexities of censorship during this transformative period.