How Did The Medici Contribute To The Renaissance?

Medici: Heroes or Villains? The Renaissance was a revolutionary cultural era of expansion and growth that spanned from the 13th to the 17th century. It was the result of growing wealth in Italy after the Middle Ages, and caused art, architecture and engineering, science, and mathematics to flourish. Many different events led to the cultural shift in Europe after the middle ages, one of them being the rise of wealth in Italy. The Italian banking family Medici is often considered one of the main contributors to the start of the Renaissance because of their investment in patronage and the creation of the Medici Bank. The Medici’s contributions to the Renaissance, especially in banking, art and the sciences, make them heroic historical figures. …show more content…
Art is important as it is a medium for self expression and allows the artist to express opinions and views that would otherwise not be shared. Art plays a fundamental role in social, cultural, and technological development. The Renaissance was a time renowned for the revival of a wide-spread interest in Ancient Greek and Roman art and manuscripts. Art from the Renaissance differed greatly from previous time periods, as realism became increasingly important, and its focus shifted to man as an individual. Time periods before the Renaissance dedicated their art to religion, which allowed little room for self-expression and made art less important for the individual. Art became an important aspect of life during the Renaissance, and Florence became its capital. The Medicis were responsible for the cultural boom in the 15th century, as they sponsored many illustrious artists like Donatello, Michelangelo and Da Vinci. Many of their creations were commissioned and paid for by the Medici family. The Medici were known for being the most popular patrons for the arts, sciences, and