House of Medici

In 1434, the Medici family gained control of the Republic of Florence. The family started solely as bankers. They gained power by financially supporting Pope John XXIII and continuing to serve as the direct bank of the Pope. The Medici family ruled Florence from 1434-1737 and are remembered for so many incredible Florentine successes. In the same era, Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian philosopher, wrote a book entitled The Prince. This book set forth the most efficient way to gain and maintain…

to tell him a story about myself, so I recounted my early days when I met the great Jacques Arcadelt. It was many years ago in the mid 1530's. I had snuck into a party hosted by the Medici family. I heard beautiful music and wanted to see the performers first hand. Plus, they always have the best wine. The Medici family has been in power in Florence for so long, people know of no other rulers here. Even though they still followed a monarchical structure and often ruled with tyranny, they…

this question was Niccolo Machiavelli – one of the most famous Italian thinkers and political leaders of the Renaissance period. When the Medici family gained power in Florence, during the Italian Renaissance, Machiavelli, who was back then a civil servant in the Florentine Republic - was accused of conspiracy and imprisoned. To win favor with Lorenzo de Medici, he wrote a book called The Prince, which contained a list of advices about how to create and hold onto a principality and the book, in…

The Renaissance through the Baroque, Chapter 19 In the early Italian Renaissance what major family influenced artists and give three examples? The Medici family was very influential in the art world due to their creation of the Platonic Academy of philosophy. Many artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo, were apart of the Platonic Academy of philosophy. This academy not only funded many artists, but it also gave birth to the beliefs of Neoplatonists. Neoplatonists believed that in the…

Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 in a town called Florence Italy. He was known to have a great education and he was a great writer and reader.Machiavelli saw the struggles the french had during the french invasion in 1493 when the medici fled . In 1498 he became secretary of the Ten he had held this until fall in 1512. Machiavelli was employed in a great variety of missions. He did a mission for the Emperor Maximilian. And machiavelli did four more more for france. The dispatches during…

Machiavelli is the “heir… to civic humanism” because he is keenly aware that any advice towards the ruling elite may be seen as a threat, and so he must validate his opinions through the use of examples from romanticized ancient Rome and Greece to show that his opinions were not an issue, but the truth behind them which would remain true even at his death or expulsion threatened the stability of any government. As is the case with Renaissance humanism, Machiavelli drew comparisons from knowledge…

century, the Medici family held an extremely influential role in the governance of Florence. Giovanni di’ Bicci, whom many consider to be the founder of the Medici dynasty, brought to life the Medici Bank, a strong economic power of this time. Ensuing Giovanni’s death, his son Cosimo inherited the family fortune. Cosimo was well-versed in the politics of diplomacy and business, therefore allowing him to expand the family bank and become the most influential man in Florence . Cosimo de’ Medici…

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an Italian logician and writer who both shocked and intrigued the mind of Renaissance Europe. In his most renowned work, Il Principe (The Prince)(1532), he set out his thoughts on how the ruler of a nation could set out to achieve power and how he may keep that power once he had secured it. In spite of the fact that Shakespeare's most notorious Cunning character is Richard III, the model of the political rogue out to secure his own particular position can be…

Davids each reflect a representation of the Florentine government at the time of their creation. Although the actual date of the sculpting of David is unknown, a rough estimate claims for it to be around 1420s to 1460s. Originally showcased in the Medici Plaza, Donatello’s bronze statue David showed a young boy standing in his glory. A closer inspection of the face points out certain details that to a bigger claim. The most noticeable feature when closely examining the statue is David’s smile.…

This career has been a major part of my life, even when I was a small child. My father was a high school history teacher. If my father had not been in this position, I would not be who I am today. I have always had a deep love for history and art (that my father most certainly instilled in me). This has become part of who I am and shapes how I see the world. Never once do I see a classical-facade building and not identify the type of pillars out front.The emperors of ancient Rome have become a…