Medici Enlightenment
In the era of the renaissance, money was dangerously unsafe, the transportation of funds between metropolitans was unclear and confusing, each city had their own rules while other cities currency was unstable, and bartering. This brought frustration and corruption throughout the means of currency during this era. Coped with the daunting challenge to bring order, a family by the name Medici rose to power by establishing the fundamentals of common banking to light. Consequently, the Medici family organized the means of doing business transactions throughout multiple metropolitan cites through branches of the Medici banking system. Therefore, making money safe to spend and bring order to the way we bank today.
Throughout parts of Florence and other renaissance cites, the overwhelming population of people was but a norm for those times. People voyaged from city to city in hopes to find work and live the life they had dreamed for. As much as this was all but a fairy tale, this brought the daunting task of controlling currency between each city. The first issue was that each city had their own set laws and rules for how they controlled their currency. “In most of Europe it was dangerous and time-consuming to travel with gold or coins. Hence, bills of exchange that
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“The immense wealth of the Medici bank made Cosimo into favorable contact with princes and popes” (Jurdjevig 994). It was now safe and fair to exchange different currency’s while transporting from city to city and keep a set of accounting items like checks and balances. This resulted in an increase in currency in each city and raised the opportunity to build new branches of the Medici banks. “Florence emerged as one of the Renaissance most thriving cities by developing the largest and most integrated trade and banking networks in the West” (Barricelli
“I’ll be out of here and away from all you knaves for one time anyway, as not a month will pass before you’ll see whether I’m nobody or a somebody.” The story of Bianco Alfani reflected the nature of 14th century Florentine society where, as Alfani remarked, the election to public office could make or destroy a person. In late 14th century and early 15th century Florence, decreased population and expanding commerce provided a favorable environment for ambitious individuals. The real life examples of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati demonstrated the positive role of ambition in Florence. Pitti, a nobleman had an extremely successful career, partaking in military campaigns, holding public office in Florence and being an ambassador to foreign courts. Gregorio Dati, the grandson of purse venders, engaged in commerce, rising in social standing which culminated with his election to public office. Holding office was a definitive sign of success and recognition in Florence. In contrast was the tale Bianco Alfani, a deemed man unworthy of office. As told by Piero Veneziano, Alfani was the chief jailor in Florence who was duped into believing he had been named captain of the town of Norcia. Alfani publicly made a fool of himself, spending all his money and creating a great fanfare over his supposed appointment. Comparing the lives of Pitti and Dati to the story of Bianco Alfani illustrates how economic and social change in 14th century Florence produced a culture centered on reputation and commerce. For men like Pitti and Dati, who flourished within the constraints of Florentine society, their reward was election to office, a public mark of acceptance and social standing. Those who were ambitious but failed to abide by the values o...
Venetians on the other hand controlled most of the trade and shipping in the northern Italy. The Medici family ran Florence’s banking and international finance; they were an influentional family in the Renaissance Italy. The Medici family was well accomplished and famous for their banking systems, especially the double entry system. This system was introduced by Giovanni Bicci de Medici. This system made it easy to record credits and debits for the person writing them, while registering money flow, money going in and money going out. The system was also helpful for the merchants since if allowed them to use this to record credits rather than carrying coins and do the trade. The Medici bank was known internationally due the trade and fund transferring; it allowed the Medici bank be the dominant bank in Italy and Europe. Florentines accounting techniques supplied the coating in the Florentine economy. The Medici banking system began the era of credit in economy. Florentines also had strong currency which gave an upper hand to them over other cities. The Florentine gold coinage was considered standard in Europe. The Medici bank branches present in all major cities of Italy, also Avignon, London, Geneva and most importantly
In the early 14th century, Florentine government was controlled by the nobility who had slowly been corrupting the city and emptying it of wealth. By 1340, the popolo was in conflict against the nobles, seeking a shared...
The Medici Chapel is located in Florence, Italy and it is a house to the Medici family. The Medici Chapel includes, the Crypt, The Princes’ Chapel (Cappella del Principi) and The New Sacristy (Sacrestia Nuova). The main rooms are the New Sacristy and the Princes’ Chapel, and the entrance is at the back of San Lorenzo. The New Sacristy was designed and built by Michelangelo in 1519. The Princes’ Chapel is where the members of the Medici family are buried.
The definition of a Renaissance man or woman is a person that is talented in many fields and is held in regard with a group of elites who also share mutual talents. An example of a Renaissance man is someone who can create prestige paintings and also create life like statues from stone. A well-known renaissance man is Leonardo da Vinci, he was credited with creating histories first prototypes of planes and other inventions that were well ahead of his time. On top of that he was also a painter, architect, and student of all things scientific. Although he was a genius to many his thirst of knowledge was great his only regret was that he would not live long enough to see his inventions come to life. His natural genius crossed so many disciplines that he epitomized the term “Renaissance man.” Renaissance Humanism took a
Despite the nature, origins and even existence of the Renaissance being subject to intensive investigation by many historians, the traditional understanding of the European renaissance as being defined as the bridge between the Middle Ages and modern era has resonated in society throughout time. Exemplified through the influx of creative arts, literature and philosophy of that time, Swiss cultural historian Jacob Burckhardt defined this bridge as being the result of an immense intellectual transformation in humanity. In fact, the term ‘renaissance’, coined by the French historian Jules Michelet, can be translated to mean ‘new birth’ or ‘rebirth’. Spanning roughly through the 14th to 17th centuries, the renaissance is often recognised as the time of a revolution of cultural revitalization and exploration. These traditionalist ideas of the Renaissance as developed by Michelet and later expanded by Burckhardt were however ultimately disposed by revisionist historians like Charles Homer Haskins who began a revolt against Renaissance idea, motivated by the goal to deny the era any legitimate historical existence and annex the period to the middle ages. However, the perspectives of these historians in this debate are ultimately a reflection of their own context and purposes. Both Michelet and Burckhardt’s approach reflect their own 19th-century world, whilst Haskins was heavily influenced by his liberal, optimistic 20th-century ideals. A more contemporary approach to the debate is exemplified through historiographer Wallace K. Ferguson. Ferguson had chosen to focus and draw conclusions from the mirrored reflections and controversies surrounding the Renaissance idea that persisted amongst past historians. However, despite argua...
On November 24, 1694, Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet to an upper middle-class family in Paris, France. Throughout his life, Voltaire wrote numerous philosophical works including poems, plays, and books. Next to Montesquieu, Locke, Rousseau and others, Voltaire is known as one of the greatest French Enlightenment writers. His works, and the works of other Enlightenment writers, influenced both the French and the American revolutions.
A strong financial system was formed through agriculture, trading, and the production of art. They share except...
Through historical and economic data this research paper will express how Florence flourished from a mercantile economy in the Renaissance.
Fueled by the ideal of magnificenza, the wealthiest families of Fifteenth century Florence radically changed the city’s structural appearance with the construction of palazzos. A truly versatile structure, the palazzo or palace refers to a large building in the city that could function as a governmental or institutional facility, as well as a private residence. Seen in this period as a way to offer jobs back to the people of Florence, the societal mentality of using wealth for private means has shifted from a sin to be atoned for in the afterlife, to a virtue because it made it possible to reconcile celebrating the patrons success and personal worth with the ideals of embellishing the city. The growing democratization of Florentine society
Florence, Italy was a city just like any other during the Renaissance. It was city of 50,000 people, less than there were in Paris and Venice but more than most other European cities. The busiest parts of the city were the Ponte Vecchio, a place lined with markets and houses, the neighborhood of the Orsanmichele and Mercato Vecchio, or the Old Market. Florence was a place of beauty and leisure. A Venetian visitor once said, “There is in my opinion no region more sweeter than that wherein Florence is a placed for Florence is situated in a plain surrounded on all sides by hills and mountains…And the hills are fertile cultivated, pleasant…” (Unger, pg. 1). Florence was a very prosperous city; it made fortunes off of wool and banking trades. A certain Florentine family contributed to the vast wealth as well. The Medici family was no doubt the foundation of prosperity for Florence.
Most of the Nordic banking institutions and the Italian states, such as Amsterdam and London, provide a crucial and powerful link that allows traders and many merchants to settle bills in one place for the goods of another city. Investors are encouraged to bank or deposit their money into their personal savings accounts, using real interest rates as their reliable investment area. However, according to Congdon, “A run on a bank (1400)” situation “befalls on many investors in small banks withdrew their money; thus rendering small banks, bankruptcy as a result of the financial phobia created by the great Florentine banks and these banks defaulted of their enormous money in loans that they made to investors in the mid-fourteenth century” (Medieval Italy 98). In addition, banking promoted the establishment of international commerce in Europe, thus contributing to the development of an economy as a whole, an effective monetary basis, and helping to promote the emergence of
The Baroque era was the age of magic. Flat surfaces became three-dimensional and paint on plaster became alive. It was the age of masterful illusion. Nothing exhibits this mastery better than Baroque ceiling paintings.
"Famiglia De Medici: The Extraordinary Story Of The Family That Financed The Renaissance." Business Insider. 6 Dec. 2013. .
The Renaissance was a cultural movement and turning point in European history, originating in Italy and lasting from the 14th to the 17th century. Following the Middle Ages, the Renaissance gave rise to humanism, inducing human achievement rather than religion, breaking away from previous medieval scholasticism and reviving the once lost Greek and Roman interests. During the three centuries, the political structure of Europe took several different forms through its numerous political leaders. This organization of politics reflected the ideals and values of the time, as it broke away from the thought process of the past, such as the heavy influence of religion, and accepted newer ideas such as individualism, humanism, and secularism. Through the political leaders, important developments and advancements have been made not only in politics, but in other fields as well, as throughout the modern world. Due to the political structure, under the rule of certain leaders, Europe experienced a political evolution. This gave birth to the foundations of modern politics through the transition from the Middle Ages, composition of significant political literary works, and the development of diplomacy.