Flavio Biondo

Flavio Biondo (Latin Flavius Blondus) (1392 – June 4, 1463) was an Italian Renaissance humanist historian. He was the first historian to coin the term Middle Ages and is known as one of the first archaeologists.

Archaeological Works

Flavio published three works that were systematic and documented guides to the ruins and topography of ancient Rome for which he has been called one of the first archaeologists. At the time ancient Rome was overgrown and unexplored. When in 1430 Poggio Bracciolini climbed the Capitol he saw only deserted fields around. The Forum was inhabited by pigs and unweeded vegetation. Flavio and fellow humanists like Leon Battista Alberti began to explore and document the architecture, topography and history of Rome, and in the process revived a vision of Romes former glory.

Related Topics:
1430 - Poggio Bracciolini - Capitol - Forum - Leon Battista Alberti

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Flavio's first work was De Roma instaurata (Rome Restored, 3 vol, 1444-1446) a reconstruction of ancient Roman topography. It was and remains a highly influential humanist vision of restoring Rome to its previous heights of grandeur by recreating what Rome used to look like based on the ruins which remained.

Related Topics:
1444 - 1446 - Topography

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The second was the highly popular De Roma triumphante (Rome Triumphs, (1459)) about pagan Rome as a model for contemporary governmental and military reforms. The book was highly influential in reviving Roman patriotism and respect for ancient Rome and presenting the papacy as a continuum of the Roman Empire.

Related Topics:
1459 - Pagan - Papacy - Roman Empire

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Finally he published Roma instaurata (Rome Established) which provided the first systematic and well documented guide to the ruins of Rome, or indeed any ancient ruins, for which he has been called one of the first archaeologists.

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