Tricia Chua

Date of Award

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Benes, Carrie

Keywords

Humanism, Italian, Renaissance, Libraries, Vatican, Catholicism, Scholars, Latin, Translations

Area of Concentration

History

Abstract

This thesis argues that the creation of the Vatican Library in the fifteenth century was unique among other "princely" libraries of the period due to its scope, perseverance, and evolution. Rather than understanding the Vatican Library as simply the personal library of the pope, I argue that the efforts of popes, specifically Nicholas V and Sixtus IV, established it as an attempt to provide a usable library for scholars. The creation of the Library created an academically focused research institution that became a lasting and continuing edifice of the Vatican's cultural prestige. It served, and continues to serve, not just the pope and his Curia, but also the needs of scholars. The humanistic spirit of the Italian Renaissance provided the architectural framework that guided the Library's ultimate development, making it a lasting institution that represents and serves much more than its original Christian intentions.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida Libraries, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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