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Renaissance and Reformation Links (With one sample below from Political: Medici Family )

This page provided students with links to all of these areas.

(The links have been removed for this demonstration, and ONE discussion from the TWENTY TWO has been copied below.) 

 The Medici Family 

WI said

On the topic of the Medici family, it's critical to mention how nothing could have ever been accomplished without Cosimo the Great. He was the individual that began it all and it snowballed from him. A very important fact is that after Brunelleschi began to work on the Florence Cathedral commissioned by Cosimo, the Albizzi family had won in the city elections of 1433 and banished the Medici's. There was a swift change in the productivity in Florence. The work on the dome ceased and the city was showing many aspects of when it was still in the middle ages. But, within a year, Cosimo and the Medici's returned to Florence and oversaw the banishment of the Albizzi's and Florence could continue to flourish. This clearly proved that the Medici's were the fuel behind the Renaissance in Florence and it all began with Cosimo the Great.

AL said

at 5:08 pm on Jan 4, 2009 

The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. The family produced three popes (Leo X, Clement VII, and Leo XI), numerous rulers of Florence (notably Lorenzo the Magnificent, patron of some of the most famous works of Renaissance art) and later members of the French and English royalty. Since the Medici's were so wealthy and influential, they were able to bring Florence under their family's power. This allowed for an environment in Florence where art and humanism could flourish. The Medici Bank was one of the most prosperous and most respected in Europe. There are some estimates that the Medici family were for a period of time the wealthiest family in Europe. From this base, they acquired political power initially in Florence and later in wider Italy and Europe. Although the Medici family was famous for the flourishing of the rebirth of the arts as well as education, they also had an impact on the Church. Many people think of the Renaissance as a time of sculptures, painters and scientists however, they forget that the Church still played a huge part of daily life during this time. The Medici family, starting with Cosimo used their huge wealth to better the community of Florence, the best known of the Medici's was Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo, who was known as “Lorenzo the Magnificent.” Lorenzo was not only a shrewd banker and clever politician; he was also a scholar and a poet. Under Lorenzo’s leadership, Florence became one of the most beautiful and prosperous cities in Italy, as well as a center of the Renaissance. The Medici family made contributions to the Church by having art commissioned for it because the Medici family valued art and thought that it should be a huge aspect of Renaissance life. They show their value and love for art by the amount of money they spent towards sculptures, paintings and buildings being put up which they had commissioned by many of the famous artists from this era. 

GA said

at 4:16 pm on Jan 6, 2009

Leo X probably had the greatest impact on Christianity, of the three Medici popes, though at the time it was probably not apparent. He was the Pope when Luther posted his 95 Theses and he did nothing to stop the spread of these new ideas, which eventually led to the creation of Lutheranism; so by not getting involved Pope Leo X helped move the Reformation forward. Ironically this led to conflict within the Catholic community, which was the one thing Pope Leo X was supposed to govern and keep unified.

JA said

at 8:44 pm on Jan 6, 2009

I agree with WI that Cosimo was one of the great fuels to the Italian Renaissance (especially in Florence). On top of the great artistic patronage that Will said, Cosimo was extremely influential politically. Because he was an international banker, he was able to meet with the leaders of other Italian cities, as well as foreign countries. While meeting these leaders, Cosimo was able to negotiate peace treaties. This helped fuel the Renaissance because cultural rebirth and advancement would not have been possible if there was conflict in Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance.

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