Some key ideas in Renaissance educational

Renaissance educational theory of the 15th and 16th centuries weighs in on the side of aristocracy, i.e., leadership roles should be in the hands of the best and brightest. Educa-tion for leadership is crucial for the sons of aristocrats. Being born into the aristocracy is not in itself a guarantee that leader-ship capabilities will emerge. "Blood tells," theorists agree, but it does not tell everything, and it does not tell enough about what is …

…scussions of the essen-tials comprising education for leadership. As economic and technological developments proceeded through the early modern era, it became clear to some students of governance that the scope of leadership must increase accordingly. The wise leader must be more than morally firm, intellectually able, and proficient in oral expression; he must learn enough about the manufactories of his realm so that he can approve policies that encourage productivity (cf. Milton and academies, below).