Medici Family

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Medici family in Italy. It describes the Florentine Quattrocento century and discusses the influence that the Medici's had, particularly in the realm of civic humanism. It describes the focus of their rule and how they were accepted by the people. The paper then describes the changes in power of the Medici family over time.

From the Paper:

"With such views it is clear why Cosimo gained political power and importance in Florence. If Cosimo's reign was fraught with incidents of largesse, he had enough power and wealth to justify it. He was a prominent man with political connections with powerful people like princes and popes. Cosimo was also the head of Medici bank and during the Quattrocento personal wealth could be easily used to justify power. Such a thing would have not been possible in Trecento. Medici family had gained people's support by lending money and patronage to relatively unknown families with little or no political connection. These families would then become dependent on Medicis and thus supported them. (Kent, 28)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• J. Ross, Lives of the Early Medici as told in their Correspondence (London, 1910)
• Kent, Dale. The Rise of the Medici: Faction in Florence 1426-1434. Oxford, 1978
• Hale, John. Florence and the Medici: The Pattern of Control. Plymouth, 1977
• Hibbert, Christopher. The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici. Morrow, 1975
• Poggio, On Avarice, in The Earthly Republic. Translation by Kohl and Welles, in Witt & Kohl, 263.

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