PreMedici Florence Territory At the end of the 14 th century Florence was ruled by a merchantile elite Costly continuous wars enlarged the territory of the citystate by conquering Arezzo ID: 207423
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Slide1
De Medici FamilySlide2
Pre-Medici Florence - Territory
At the end of the 14
th
century, Florence was ruled by a
merchantile elite. Costly, continuous wars enlarged the territory of the city-state by conquering Arezzo, Cortona, Prate, Pistoia and Pisa. Pisa’s ports made the Republic of Florence a sea power and major economic power of the WestSlide3
Banking was a major source of power and income, and the Florentine gold coin, the florin was so reliable that it was the standard coinage in Europe
Much of Florence's wealth was dependent on the manufacture and trade of cloth, primarily wool.
The Florin
Pre-Medici Florence
-
EconomySlide4
Florence was controlled by the
Albizzi
and
Pazzi
families until about 1438.
Pre-Medici Florence – Ruling Families
The
Albizzi
family had controlled the republican government for two generations, but they led a lot of costly wars, so the people switched allegiances to the Medici.
The
Pazzi
family were wealthy bankers that were in a semi-friendly competition with the Medici family. Eventually, they tried to depose the
Medicis
, failed, and their lineage ended.Slide5
Pre-Medici Florence – The Arts
The
Palazzo
Davanzati
is a good example of the transition from the medieval tower house to the Renaissance palace.
Churches and public buildings, and houses constructed with Romanesque or Gothic architecture, reminiscent of northern Italian influence.
Most of the architecture tried to combine utilitarian and aesthetic purposes, because these mercantile elite needed to rebuilt the city from disasters (a flood in the late 1300s) but they wanted to be impressive as well
The
Albizzi
family supported a lot of artists and cultural iconsSlide6
Family TreeSlide7
Beginnings of Medici Power
Giovanni di
Bicci
de
’MediciFirst of the famous ruling Medici’s and considered founder of Medici family fortuneGiovanni is considered to be the first prominent patron of the arts Giovanni was a leader not concerned with politics, but rather the family fortune and the artsGiovanni died in 1429 and his son Cosimo became head of the Medici familySlide8
Rise of
Cosimo de
’
Medici
Became head of powerful family bank, and amassed a fortune because he became banker to the pope, and his bank also spread to all the important financial markets throughout Europe.Cosimo was very interested in a rebirth of classical ideas and even went so far as to recreate Plato’s ancient academy in Carregi.Slide9
Cosimo
was also a very religious man and much of his patronage of the arts was rooted in his religious fervor.Cosimo
spent a considerable portion of his wealth on the arts
Amassed the largest library in Europe
Supported artists such as Ghiberti, Brunellechi, Donatello, Alberti, Fra Angelico, and UcelloFlorence became cultural center of EuropeRise of Cosimo de’
MediciSlide10
Fall of
Cosimo de
’
Medici
Political career in shambles after Florence’s unsuccessful campaign against LuccaCampaign engineered by Brunelleschi to flood city of Lucca, containing water with giant damPlan backfired when dam broke and flooded camps of Florence as wellIn September 1433, Cosimo was imprisoned on charges of plotting to overthrow the governmentCosimo was then banished to Venice, resulting in the loss of Brunelleschi
’s most powerful patronSlide11
Lorenzo de
’Medici
Grandson of
Cosimo
Lorenzo, know also as Lorenzo the Magnificent, was is said to be the most brilliant of the MediciLorenzo was also respected as a very talented Latin poet, and like his family members was very interested in texts of antiquityLorenzo is considered to be the greatest patron of the artsCommissioned such artists and musicians as Michelangelo,Botticelli and VerrocchioReasons for this patronage included genuine interest, continuing family tradition, and political motives Lorenzo even discovered the talented Michelangelo when the artist was only 15 years old
Lorenzo de Medici, Andrea del VerrocchioSlide12
Tomb of the Medici, MichelangeloSlide13
Post-Medici – The Initial Fall From Power
Girolamo
Savonarola was a preacher who settled in Florence in 1489.
He attacked the tyranny of the Medici family in his sermons, and when in 1494, Charles VIII of France invaded Italy, the Medici
’
s lost power, and Savonarola took control, putting Florence under extremely rigid control.
Eventually, Savonarola
’
s followers turned on him, and he was killed.
Girolamo SavonarolaSlide14
Post- Medici - Art and Science
At this point, most of the artistic products of Florence were in music, and the numerous academies of literature. The Accademia della Crusca compliled the Dictionary.
History of the Accademia della Crusca:
http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa071900a.htm
When the Lorraine family took over Florence, they revived the town's economy, but they also turned Florence more provincial, so it didn
’
t participate in a thriving international cultural expansion. So Florence
’
s culture remain unchanged at staid for quite sometime
.Slide15
Cardinal Giovanni de Medici (
Pisaro
’
s uncle) regained control of Florence in 1512 for the lineage.
In 1569, Cosimo
III became the “Grand Duke” of Tuscany, after taking over many of the surrounding areas. He ruled with a heavy hand, not very popular.His heirs were far weaker.
In 1737,
Cosimo
III dies, and both of his children
Gian
Gastone
and Anna Maria Luisa die childless. The Medici line has died out, and Florence is inherited by the Lorraine Dynasty.
Post-Medici – The Final Fall…