ABSTRACT
It is August 1492 and Pope Innocent VIII has died. Now the Sacred College of Cardinals must meet to choose his successor. Although it presents a unified front outwardly, the Curia is rife with internal dissent. Some cardinals wish to reform the Roman Catholic Church, while others would magnify its wealth and worldly power (as well as their own). This is the conclave that elected Rodrigo Borgia to become Pope Alexander VI – but that may not happen after all. Why not? Because this is a game in which students will take on the personas of the 23 cardinals who participated in this historic event, deciding for themselves who will lead the Church into the sixteenth century. Conclave 1492: The Election of a Renaissance Pope is an immersive historical role-playing game developed for the Reacting to the Past series used in hundreds of colleges and universities. This chapter details the game’s development and design, pedagogical goals, and reception among students who have played it. Conclave 1492 is an attempt to bring the world of the Borgias to life for twenty-first century college students, creating a dynamic classroom environment that encourages students to dig into primary sources; sharpen skills in critical thinking, writing, and public speaking; and make some history in the process.
