During the pandemic, Associate Professor Ada Palmer of the University of Chicago was frequently asked if COVID-19 might lead to a "golden age" similar to how some believe the Black Plague spurred the Renaissance. Palmer found this question problematic, leading her to write a blog post and then a book over 700 pages long.
“Fundamentally, there are several problems with the question,” Palmer stated. She challenges common beliefs about historical periods: “One is the belief that the Renaissance was a golden age. One is the belief that the Middle Ages is a dark age. Another is the belief that dark ages and golden ages exist at all.”
Palmer's book, "Inventing the Renaissance: The Myths of a Golden Age," published by University of Chicago Press, explores these myths using humor, imagined text messages, and detailed historical analysis. She argues that many innovations attributed to the Renaissance actually began during the Middle Ages and that historians have used myths about golden ages for political purposes.
Palmer emphasizes re-examining historical narratives: “We really need to re-examine the Renaissance and have a big public conversation about it.” She critiques cycles of history as propaganda.
The idea of a "golden age" in history originates from writers like Petrarch and Machiavelli after the Black Death. They aspired to create such an era by emulating ancient Rome. However, they did not view their time as one but hoped future efforts would achieve it.
Misconceptions about history persist today, Palmer notes: “People say...some Factor X...brought us out of darkness.” These ideas are often used politically; for example, during the Cold War or in modern debates comparing economic systems.
When President Trump claimed his policies could bring a U.S. "Golden Age," Palmer responded skeptically: “Knowing how to build a better world is hard; it’s easier to smash things.” She emphasized that growth results from sustained effort rather than destruction.
Palmer also discusses how history is written and taught: “Erasing points of view has allowed perpetuation of errors in history.” Her book blends memoir elements with academic analysis to illustrate ongoing influences from past figures like Petrarch on Machiavelli.
In teaching students about power dynamics through simulations like papal elections, Palmer demonstrates how understanding history can reveal real power dynamics today: “It can make us feel that small amounts of power we have are real power.”