Download Italy At the Start of the Renaissance

Medicis and the Rise of Italy
as the Renaissance Center
Italy At the Start of the Renaissance
Made up of tiny independent citystates
Each ruled differently (some cruel
leaders some not)
No king to unite them like other
places in Europe
Never really a feudal society
Instead, centered society around
cities
This makes them a freer society
Trade
Italy’s location (middle of Mediterranean) made it a
great trade center (in the middle of Europe, Africa,
and Asia)
The city set-up also make Italy a great place to sell
merchandise (people come from all over to a
centralized buying location)
Italy becomes very wealthy and because of
surplus of money, Italian bankers can lend money
at interest (charging borrowers) to other societies.
This increases the wealth and centralizes it in
Italy.
All of these factors, combined, helped make Italy
the center of the Renaissance (especially
Florence)
Rise of Banking and the Medici
Family
Florence ruled by a council (Signory) made up
of representatives from four quarters of
Florence.
Families murder, pillage, and exile other
families to control the Signory.
Medici family comes to rule Florence.
Lorenzo de Medici
Why the Medicis?
16 banks in Europe – source of wealth
Lend people money (at interest)
Become very wealthy and very popular amongst Europe’s
elite (lent them money!)
Also, help the poor with –
Build churches and hospitals, keep taxes low, hold giant festivals.
They were able to use their money and influence to take
over the politics of Florence
They treated the people fairly and held giant parties and
festivals to keep the people happy
Support led the Medicis to become the rulers of Florence
(controlled the Signory) – special advisors to the government
ant bankers of Florence).
After a failed assassination attempt against two of the
Medici’s, the people of Florence rounded up the assassins
and killed them. Shows the love the people had for the
Medicis.
Patronage
Patronage- paying artists, architects, and
musicians to create great works to please the
population.
Medici’s used patronage to make Florence
beautiful and keep citizens happy
Hire artists to paint beautiful paintings, sculptors to
make beautiful statues, architects to make
beautiful buildings (all based on ancient Greek and
Roman styles – unlike Middle Ages)
Hold huge festivals
Other Italian states do not want to be left behind
so they compete
In doing so, this helps set off the Renaissance
(competition).
What did Renaissance thinkers
focus on?
Focus on Humans as center
Renewal in classical literature and
ideas (Aristotle, Plato, The Iliad,etc.)
Architecture thrives (use of domes
and pillars again – Greece and Rome)
Great books, poems, and plays
written (in language of the people –
not of the Church – which was Latin!)
Sculptures, statues, and great works
of art created – academics flourish
again (like before the Middle Ages).
Middle Ages Painting
Renaissance Painting
How did Patronage and the
Medici’s Help?
None of this would have been
possible without patronage
Why?
How did the Medici family help kick
start the Renaissance?