The Medici family is one of the most celebrated families ever. They hired the top teachers, painter, writers, and others to help Florence grow. Yet the story of how they got there is usually unknown. The Medici family came to Florence in the year 1100. However, the Medici family moved from the area that was just 20 miles north of there called the Muegello Region. Just like any other immigrant to Florence at the time, they looked to gain power and wealth from the expanding economy. The Medici's have served in public office for a long period of time. The first traces of them in public office came in 1216. They controlled the lower office and over the years grew in power. By the year 1300, they were in some of the highest public offices and The banking industry created ties with many people and allowed the Medici's to gain back their power that was once theirs. His supporting casts included employees, Friends families and others. Banking also allowed the Medici to hire some of the best scientist and teachers and everything around then. when Gio died, his son, Cosimo took over. Under Cosimo, Florence continued to grow and Cosimo even destroyed a nemesis along the way with his power and influence which signaled the beginning of the Medici reign. The Medici family was a huge if not the biggest piece in forming the renaissance. They helped not only rule of lands in time of the renaissance they backed and helped many influential men such as MichaelAngelo, Leonardo Le Vinci, and even protected Galileo from the inquisition. The De Medici family was the wealthiest and most powerful family in the world at the time of the Renaissance and really sparked change. To put the wealth in perspective they hired MichaelAngelo to make statues personal to the Medici families tomb. The Medici Family ruled from the 12th century all the way to the 14th century where the last Medici leaders, Salvestro de’ Medici was forced into exile. Even though Medici rule ended in the 14th century many Cosmo the elder took control of Florence in the 1430’s. He was a patron of the Neo-Platonist movement. His family was at one time exiled from Florence but they returned a year later to rule Florence. He was a successful merchant and was the wealthiest banker in the city of Florence. Cosimo had no interest in politics but because of the feuding forces of power he became involved for the welfare of the people. He was also motivated by the fact that the feud could have interfered with his business ventures. Cosimo was the first of the de Medici family rulers that reigned for over three hundred years. He ruled Florence for his whole life not from a direct seat of power, but rather by controlling those in power. Cosimo spent his fortune improving the city of Florence and not just on his family. He supported many artists and writers throughout their lives. Cosimo died in 1464. Piero de Medici was the son of Cosimo and took over the control of the family business when his father died. He suffered severely from gout and it made it very difficult for him to move about. There were many problems in the city but Piero miraculously kept the peace and defeated his rivals. He had all of his children married off to matches that benefited the family. Piero died in
Under the Medici rule, especially the leadership of Lorenzo de’Medici, art thrived and new revolutionary ideas emerged, furthering the Renaissance in Florence while challenging the stronghold of the church. Florence became an edifice for art and the greatest painters of the time flocked to the city including Fra Filippo Lippi, Verrocchio, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo (Greenblatt 13)...
“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...
Antonio Stradivari was born in Bergamo Italy 1644. In his youth he lived in Cremona Italy, where he became the apprentice of Nicolo Amati. He had married twice, once in 1667 with a woman named Francesca, whom he had six children with. His first son only lived for six days. The rest later became priests, and apprentices of their father. Francesca then died in 1698. Soon after Stradivari remarried in 1699 to a woman named Antonia. Antonia and Stradivari had four children. Two of which had died. Stradivari bought a home in Piazza Roma; this is where Stradivari carried out his work as a luthier, with his sons at his side as apprentices. In 1737 Stradivari had died and was buried in the church of San Domenico in Cremona where his family had originated.
Charles Ponzi was born Carlo Ponzi in Lugo, Italy. His parents were far from wealthy but had an enormous reputation which placed them in aristocracy. From an early age, Ponzi’s mother placed high expectations on him. She had hoped he would restore the family to its former social and financial rank (Zuckoff, 20).
Renaissance society was made up of 3 estates. The first estate is clergy, the second is nobility also called Renaissance men and the third is commoners. 85% of commoners were peasants and the other 15% were townspeople. There were 2 writers during the Renaissance who outline the way certain people should be. Machiavelli wrote “The Prince” which told how to get and hold political power. Castiglione wrote the “Book of Courtiers” which describes the perfect Renaissance noble. In Renaissance society marriages were arranged to strengthen political ties. The woman’s family paid the dowry and the men controlled the business and family. Children were only adults when their father went to the court and freed them. Renaissan...
Cesare Borgia, also called Duke Valentino, was named Duke of Romagna by his father, Pope Alexander VI. Borgia came into power through the arms and fortune of others, and according to Machiavelli, that is not a good sign because those rulers tend to not last very long. But Borgia showed tremendous efforts to make sure he would stay in power by strengthening his foundations, even when his father was no longer the Pope. He was able to conquer th...
Born in 1474, the eldest child of the Duke Ercole I and his Duchess Leonora of Aragon. All of Ferrara rejoi...
The Renaissance, or “re-birth,” began in Italy as the highest point of human development. The new prosperity allowed scholars to concentrate on different levels of importance than money, food, and war with other countries. These scholars began looking toward attractions rather than things affecting them. Money entering the world so suddenly allowed people living in Florence and Rome make it beautiful. Different types of artwork became very famous. Some of the famous artists of this time were Donatello, Michelangelo, and Verrocchio. Fine art glorified the capabilities of humans and many people became artists. The cities in Italy soon became popular attraction sites and scholars moved from Constantinople towards Rome.
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.
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
Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy in 1469 to a middleclass family. The time in which Machiavelli lived Italy as a country was not united but divide and split into little providences and republics. He latter became responsible for the Florentine militia against the Medici government and rule. When the Medici power reclaimed Florence Machiavelli was arrested for conspiracy he was tortured and then banished from Florence. During his banishment he wrote the book The Prince in 1513 which is dedicated to the new prince of Florence Lorenzo De Medici. The book was a discourse to the prince on how to run a country and also a way Machiavelli can get a job working in politics again.
Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence, Italy. Fortunately, Machiavelli had a excellent education as a child. Paolo da Ronciglione, a renown Latin teacher, taught Machiavelli. He then attended the University of Florence and received an excellent education there. Later Machiavelli pursued a career within the government, first he became a clerk, and then an ambassador. Soon after, Machiavelli became Chancellor of Florence and engaged in tons of diplomatic activity which also allowed him to travel frequently. It also placed him in charge of Florentine military, making ...
During the Italian renaissance there were many inventions, creations, and art, but some of the things still affect our lifestyle today. Some of these things are well known by people, where some are just artwork that has lots of exposure in the modern world. There are people who devote their lives to study these works of art. There must be some information on how this outburst of art and other works began, as before the Renaissance Italy was in a depression. This is a complete turnaround from a depression. In this report I am going to review and go over how the Renaissance started and who kept it alive, by studying the life of rich patrons. There is also going to be sections on specific inventions and artwork that shows renaissance lifestyle, using a book of Art History and information about popular inventions.
She was a brilliant mathematician, and used statistics to apply them to achieve her reforms. Florence was a well-educated woman in a number of fields other than math; she had been educated in history, economics, astronomy, science, philosophy, and a number of languages. Her mother taught her how to be social and leadership qualities. Florence was born into an upper-class lifestyle, but she didn't like it. She didn't do things that the typical upper-class child would do, she would care for sick and injured pets, and when she was older she took care of servants who were sick.
Niccolo Machiavelli was a political philosopher from Florence Italy. He lived during the Italian Renaissance from May 1469 to 1527. This period in time that Machiavelli lived was the "rebirth" of art in Italy and rediscovery of ancient philosophy, literature and science.