The Renaissance was a cultural revitalization that spread across Europe, and had repercussions across the globe, but one smallish city-state in Italy was in many ways the epicenter of the thing. Florence, or as Italians might say,...

Unexpected change like an accident, an illness or a relationship that suddenly ends is inevitable -- and disorienting. With a heartfelt and optimistic take on life's curveballs, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar shares how these...

How do meteorologists and scientists make predictions about the power and trajectory of a hurricane? Buckle up. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien joins a crew of scientists who fly right into the eye of Hurricane Florence.

Art history is far from set in stone. Engineer Maurizio Seracini spent 30 years searching for Leonardo da Vinci's lost fresco "The Battle of Anghiari," and in the process discovered that many paintings have layers of history hidden...

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here... Inscribed above the Gate of Hell, this prophecy sets into motion an epic journey for salvation. Written over 10 years, Dante Alighieri's three-part narrative poem "Divine Comedy" is both an...

We typically experience classic works of art in a museum, stripped of their original contexts, but that serene setting can belie a tumultuous history. Take Michelangelo's statue of David: devised as a religious symbol, adopted as a...

The Renaissance was a cultural revitalization that spread across Europe, and had repercussions across the globe, but one smallish city-state in Italy was in many ways the epicenter of the thing. Florence, or as Italians might say,...

The scene of the three wise men offering gifts to a newborn Jesus was widely painted during the Renaissance era, so how did painter Sandro Botticelli create a version that's still well known today? James Earle describes who and what set...

From Shakespeare's plays to modern TV dramas, the unscrupulous schemer for whom the ends always justify the means has become a familiar character type we love to hate. For centuries, we've had a single word to describe such characters:...

Hank talks about Renaissance architect, engineer, and professional cranky guy Filippo Brunelleschi in this "Great Minds" dose.

Italy is a feast for the senses, wherever your travels take you. Explore the highlights of the north and south with a cultural heritage that spans centuries. But Italy is more than its past. It's also a vibrant modern economy, a key...

Florence is the regional capital of Tuscany and is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. Florence was a center of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered...

The Duomo, or Florence Cathedral, is one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Renaissance. Its massive red-brick dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, changed the course of architecture forever. Built over centuries, the...

The Roman Kingdom falls and a Republic is born--Part 1 of history's greatest revolutions that created our modern civilization.

Who were the Medici—and how did they become one of the most powerful families in history? In this episode, we dive into the story of the House of Medici, a super-rich family from Italy who helped shape art, science, and politics during...

Rise of the City States in Italy Renaissance (Part 1)

Political Power of the Merchant Class Renaissance (Part 2)

Humanism Renaissance (Part 4)

Florence, Italy:"Then we will travel to the wonderful city of Florence to see the beautiful Ponte Vecchio, which crosses the Arno river and the busy Piazza della Signoria, we will take a walk through the Museum and the tower of the...

Learn about Leonardo da Vinci, the artist and engineering genius of the Italian Renaissance who painted the Mona Lisa and sketched inventions ahead of his time.

Learn about the history of the Mona Lisa, from it's creation by Leonardo Da Vinci, to its path through history, including its theft and eventual home in the Louvre Museum.

Restoration starts with a thorough chemical analysis, an x-ray and even cat-scans to understand the make-up of each piece and the possible effects of different cleaning methods.

Florence in north central Italy came to prominence during the middle ages. Its wealth, initially generated from the weaving of woollen fabric, was consolidated when the Republic of Florence began minting gold florins in sufficient...

Michelangelo, a renowned sculptor, painter, and architect of the 16th century, created masterpieces such as the statue of David and the interior frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. His talent was recognized at a young age and he was nurtured...