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The economic impact of the Renaissance
Economic impact of the Renaissance
Similarities between middle ages and renaissance for economic
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In the late fifteenth, and early sixteenth centuries the first economic Golden Age began. Two families, the Fugger's and Medici's were of immense wealth and power. Both helped to finance projects for certain people and institutions of power, like the Pope, English Monarchy and the Holy Roman Empire. Their economic success and political influence caused much turmoil then, and even more in the future. Because of the Fuggers' and Medici's wealth and power in society they easily influenced politics, especially ecclesiastical governance by usury and sale of indulgences. In the early sixteenth century the Fugger family of Augsburg, was the wealthiest and most influential financial organization in Europe. They started making money by importing raw cotton from Mediterranean ports. The Fugger family then moved into more lucrative trades such as silk and herbs, controlling most of Europe's pepper market. "The Fuggers virtual monopoly on all gold, silver, and copper mining in central Europe endowed its leaders with great political influence" (Encarta Encyclopedia). Jacob Fugger the son of a weaver also known as "Jacob the Rich," realized how to capitalize on family partnerships. By age fourteen he started working with his brothers trading spices, silks and wool. He had major trading ventures with the port of Venice where he learned how to use double entry bookkeeping. This type of bookkeeping was a skill in which the majority of people were not aware existed, or how to use it. Fugger's popularity was widespread, "in every kingdom and every region, even among the heathens. Emperors, kings, princes and lords sent emissaries to him; the pope hailed him and embraced him as his own dear son; the cardinals stood up when he appeared" (Merr... ... middle of paper ... ...y brought in many Greek sources. The Medici's also started the Platonic Academy which supported Renaissance artists by feeding, educating, and providing them with necessities to live. Some of these were well known artists such as Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael. Because of the Medici family Florence became known as the cultural center of Europe and cradle of New Humanism. For a century they maintained total authority in Florence behind the popular forms of a republic. During the first economic Golden Age the Fugger and Medici families proved to have major monetary and political influence. Though both did have some negative impacts on the ecclesiastical life, they also had some positive impacts. Fuggers double entry bookkeeping was the unofficial start of accounting. The Medici's are credited with giving birth to the Humanist movement in Florence and the world.
The Gilded Age is a period of volatile development in American trade and cultivation. Gilded Age government were conquered by fraud, as representatives took inducements and content their groups with posh management jobs. The three major problem happened in during Glided age was Currency Reform, Social Darwinism and political corruption. The Currency Reform is one of the most significant problem commerce with finances was that of Currency Reform. However the corruption was so common during glided age. However because of that City government administrated by dishonest machines like” New York's Tammany Hall”. The simple problem reposes about the idea that the quantity of money in flow controls its worth. However, it shared by that knowledge about l that money that was not supported by solid funds.
The Medici’s were a prominent family in the Renaissance, who ruled Florence from 1434 to 1737. They are regarded as being one of the most powerful and richest families in the whole of Europe. The Medics used this great status and wealth to develop an improved Florence, one that was significantly influenced by the Renaissance. The Medici family can most certainly be regarded as the significant heroes of the Renaissance. This is due to their significant promotion and patronage in the arts, in turn bringing focus back to the antiquities, a major importance during the Renaissance period. Furthermore, the Medicis can be considered the great heroes of the Renaissance, due to their significant influence of Renaissance Humanist thinking. On top of this, although the Medici family were allegedly corrupt and supposedly paid many bribes in order to become so powerful, they still focused on benefiting the heart of the Renaissance- the city-state of Florence- and should thus not be considered the great villains of the Renaissance, but instead the heroes.
The late 19th century and early 20th century, dubbed the Gilded Age by writer Mark Twain, was a time of great growth and change in every aspect of the United States, and even more so for big business. It was this age that gave birth to many of the important modern business practices we take for granted today, and those in charge of business at the time were considered revolutionaries, whether it was for the good of the people or the good of themselves.
With Samuel Slater’s introduction of the “Factory System” to America, and Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin, the United States’ speed in manufacturing textiles increased rapidly. In 1837, however, America experienced a tremendous financial depression. Bad land speculation, and the fall of the Federal Bank (due to Jackson’s failure to recharter the Bank in 1832) were the two main factors that caused the financial crisis. ...
During the late 14th century and beginning of the 15th century, two businessmen accounted their lives in a diary. The ecclesiastical controversies, religious upheaval and The Great Western Schism affected these men, Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati, both of which were savvy money makers and were forced to conform to the change in society as well as any offices they held. Buonaccorso was more affected by these changes because of the several positions he held in society. Dati too was affected because he ran a business and was directly correlated with the economical situations at the time. Religion was one of the main disputes in Modern Europe during this time period because of The Great Western Schism and the many attempts to overthrow the rulers of France. Society within each empire were religiously, linguistically and politically diverse. Effects of the Black Plague proved to be a major factor in the ecclesiastical controversies that would eventually follow. The Babylonian Captivity also assisted the changes that were occurring within the church (Patrouch, 8/31, 9/12, 9/14). It was evident that these two men were somewhat oblivious to their surroundings and the main issues affecting their world.
The early Renaissance, which had begun in Quattrocento Italy, was sparked by the beginnings of the Humanist movement. Considered a return to classical ideals, harkening to an early time when art, philosophy and architecture focused more on men’s achievements rather than entirely concern with his salvation, which dominated the Middle Ages. Although piety was still a predominant part of everyday life, the nostalgia, which became inspiration during this period, initiated a rediscovery of the ideals from the classical Roman and Greek eras. Whose art and architecture could be seen throughout Italy and Sicily. Thus, higher education became the predominant theme among influential families. From this an immergence of forgotten manuscripts and treatise
Lorenzo De Medici can be considered as one of the most influential men of the 13th century. His work in political affairs and administration were renowned in all Italy and his family could count on him in every aspect. Lorenzo was also a promoter of a new period called Renaissance. He was one of the first “mecenate” to explore this new way of art. In this project, I will concentrate how he developed art in Florence, giving a clear example through an Artist of that period that was working for him: Sandro Botticelli. His work “The Spring” is a well-defined example of what we can call “art in the Renaissance”, in particular for the Italian Renaissance.
Many new people became successful during the gilded age, like Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and all these people created a big impact because of what they did. What these people did was open and owned monopolies, each one gained a lot of money, while a few lost.
Renaissance art history began as civic history; it was an expression of civic pride. The first such history was Filippo Villani's De origine civitatis Florentiae et eiusdem famosis civibus, written about 1381-82. Florentine artists revived an art that was almost dead, Villani asserts, just as Dante had restored poetry after its decline in the Middle Ages. The revival was begun by Cimabue and completed by Giotto, who equalled the ancient painters in fame and even surpassed them in skill and talent. After Giotto came his followers, Stefano, Taddeo Gaddi, and Maso, uomini illustri all, who, together with notable jurists, poets, musicians, theologians, physicians, orators, and others, made Florence the preeminent city of Italy.
...a wealth. A new type of consumer, who preferred variety and luxury, began to appear in both the towns and the countryside. People who were unsure if they would be alive the next day wanted to spend their money on fine foods and luxuries. Many lords and wealthy merchants built churches and commissioned religious art, partly in thanks for being spared the horrors of the Black Death. Some of the artistic styles that developed in this period were very influential later during the Renaissance. Some historians suggest that people who invested in culture in hard times financed the Renaissance (Rice 67).
The Medici family is officially in power. It is 1434 and the House of Medici has been looked up to since the 13th century, but now the Medici family is influencing major change. Due to the family’s support in arts and humanities the Renaissance has taken place. During the renaissance civilians primary focus was the idea that everyone should be educated and participate in arts and science. This change in the way people thought was influenced by the Medici family. The Medici family flourished financially in the 1400’s and continued to gain power politically in the 14th century. Several members of the Medici family created success for the
Italian Renaissance followed soon after the Middle Ages. It was the time of discovery and the revival of a new age—known as The Golden Age. The Renaissance witnessed the great discovery, exploration and inventions. This era was introduced by the birth of the philosophy of humanism, which highlighted the significance of individual accomplishment in a broad range of fields. However, it also had a dark side full of corruption, greed and scandal.
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.
The Italian Renaissance included some of the greatest artists we have ever seen from Leonard Da Vinci, to Michelangelo, and Raphael. The Renaissance took place from the late thirteenth to sixteenth centuries and is know as the ‘rebirth’. The idea that the rebirth of the arts after being asleep for a thousand years is an amazing thing to grasp. This time brought back light to liberal arts, which were on the brink of being extinct. (Murray 2) What is also interesting about art during this time was that most of the art had Christian in its roots, for example, Botticelli’s The Allegory of Spring (Faure 1) is said to have had a Christian interpretation. (Murray) “Every Italian artist, willingly took the title of architect, sculptor, and painter” (Faure 2). At the beginning of the fifteenth century, the Italian painters had asked the Flemish painters for their secret techniques because the Italians felt like the language of painting was one that was always meant for them. (Faure 4) The sculptors claimed their inspiration from ancient works. Lastly the Renaissance introduced idea of individualism, which helped the Italians get away from everything that was going on during that time. Art during the Renaissance included painting, sculpting and architecture, all of which were an important part in expressing the idea of individualism and making art what is is today.
"Famiglia De Medici: The Extraordinary Story Of The Family That Financed The Renaissance." Business Insider. 6 Dec. 2013. .