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Gregorio Dati (1362–1435) and the Limits of Individual Agency

Ionu Epurescu-Pascovici

Medieval Studies, 259 Goldwin Smith Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. E-mail: pie2{at}cornell.edu

This article focuses on the diary of the Florentine Gregorio Dati (1362–1435) and its significance for the study of agency in pre-modern Europe. In particular, this article analyses Dati's ‘abeyance of individual agency’ in the context of his family affairs, business ventures, and participation in politics, as well as in relation to Dati's views on his personal development. The diary data, and in particular the private memoranda of 1404 and 1412, are corroborated with Dati's other writings and placed in the context of late-medieval and Renaissance culture. As such, this article draws attention to the role of cultural factors in the construction of agency, and aims to participate in a broader, interdisciplinary debate.

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Epurescu-Pascovici, I. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?