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[[File:Medici Three.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Cosimo De Medici]]
What were the contributions of the de Medici family to the Renaissance in Italy during the fifteenth century? The de Medicis were the effective rulers of the Florentine Republic in the 15th century , and they later became the ruling house of Florence in the 16th and 17th century. The family, especially in the fifteenth century made a decisive contribution to the Renaissance in Italy. This was through their patronage of the arts in their native Florence and their policies that favored peace and stability in Italy shaped the Renaissance. The de Medicis made a real and telling contribution to the arts, politics and stability of Italy and encouraged the cultural flourishing that became known as the Renaissance.
== Who were the De Medici? ==The city’s artists and writers took advantage Medici family originally originate in a small village to the north of Florence. In the peace and stability to develop thirteenth century, the first Medici arrived in Florence. The family soon prospered in their new styles of art home. The early De Medici’s made their money in securitythe wool trade. Then They used the profits that they made in the wool trade to diversify their business interests. Giovanni di Bicci de ' Medici were quite tolerant for (c. 1360–1429) increased the family's wealth, established the timesMedici Bank, and became one of Florence's richest men.<ref> MartinesHibbert, pChristopher. 145<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0688053394/ref> They were largely secular in outlook and their power meant that the city’s artists =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0688053394&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=3a60f5b995328d84b5c49af6c25a9362 The House of Medici: Its Rise and writers did not have to fear from the Inquisition or clerical interference.Fall]<ref/i>Schevill. Morrow (London, Morrow, p. 1171975) </ref> The Medicibecame involved in politics, especially Lorenzo the Magnificent were broad-minded, indeed Lorenzo was himself a distinguished poet and this led to an atmosphere where new ideas and practices they were encouraged and even promoted often involved with the popular party in Florence.<ref> StrathernIn general, p. 117</ref> The de Medic had long been associated with the HumanistsMedici liked to influence politics from behind the scene and used their wealth and connections to achieve their goals. Lorenzo In 1434 Cosimo the Magnificent Elder was himself taught by a well-known Humanist and was sympathetic to elected as one of the aims leaders of the movement. This meant that humanism Florentine Republic, and its ideas on human reason and capabilities flourished in although he was only one of several magistrates who ruled the city, he came to dominate it. Indeed<ref> Ferdinand Schevill, many humanists such as De Valla were able to secure employment in <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006D8BXY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0006D8BXY&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d7f7869357eb87e0ad2906fa13cffb47 History of Florence: From the de Medici administration and added to Founding of the cultural life of City Through the city.Renaissance]<ref/i> Hibbert(London, Frederick Ungar, 1936), p. 167113</ref>
==The De How did the de Medici and dominate Florence during the revival of Greek LearningRenaissance ==[[File: De Medici One.jpg|thumbnail|300px|Michaelangelo – whose patrons were In the De Medici]]The Renaissance was inspired by the Classical World of Ancient Greece and Rome. However, until the fifteenth 15th century, when the Italian humanists only knew of Ancient Greece and the great works of Plato and the other great Greeks through the Romans. Cosimo the Elder helped to introduce Ancient Greek manuscripts and culture into Italy. Cosimo the Elder sought to end the schism in the Christian Church. He helped to negotiate the union of the Catholic and the Orthodox Church that de Medici was formalized at the Council height of their powers, they dominated Florence in 1439. This Union ultimately failed but it was to have a profound impact on the development of the Renaissance<ref> Lauro Martines, <i>[https://www.amazon. The Byzantine Emperor visited com/gp/product/019517609X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=019517609X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=654c7c84b58e8d9216a561104ef011e1 April Blood: Florence in 1493 to ratify and the Union and he was attended by several hundred followers among them Plot Against the great Neoplatonist philosopher George Gemistos Plethon.Medici]<ref/i> Miles(Oxford, Oxford University Press 2003, p. 123114)</ref> Cosimo had failed However, they were eager to achieve a lasting union between the eastern and the western Church. Howeverappear as first among equals, he inspired renewed interest in they went to great lengths to allow the works of the Greeks as he patronized several Greek scholars from Byzantium other noble and appears wealthy families to have secured some manuscripts that were previously unknown in Florence. In the Byzantine Empire, there were secure many great works from of the Greek past that were unknown offices in Italy. The city of Florence soon became the center for the study of Ancient Greek culture and Neoplatonism, became very influentialCity-Republic’s government.<ref>HibbertSchevill, p. 134115</ref> This reconciled many of them to the domination of their Republic by one family. The increasing interest in Greek culture de Medici were fabulously wealthy at least until the 1480s, and their wealth was able to direct smooth out any difficulties that they had experienced and the Renaissance in new directions and inspired City of Florence experienced a new generation period of writers peace and philosophers such as Pico Della Mirandolastability because of the de Medici's wealth.
The Medici’s used their lavish wealth to patronize many of the greatest city’s artists and writers took advantage of the time. The family was directly responsible for some peace and stability to develop new styles of the greatest works art in the Renaissancesecurity. Cosimo Then the Elder de Medici was quite tolerant for the patron of times.<ref> Martines, p. 145</ref> They were mostly secular in outlook and their power meant that the great architect Bruneschelli city’s artists and it was under De Medici orders that he built writers did not have to fear from the great Inquisition or clerical interference.<ref>Schevill, p. 117</ref> The Medici Sacristy in , especially Lorenzo the Church of San Lorenzo. It Magnificent was Cosimo who ordered the building of the great De Medici Palace with its magnificent paintings by Ucelleobroad-minded. It Indeed, Lorenzo was Cosimo who also commissioned Donatello'shimself a distinguished poet, Bronze of David, one of the most influential pieces of sculpture and this led to an atmosphere where new ideas and practices were encouraged and even promoted in the periodFlorence.<ref> HibbertStrathern, p. 134117</ref> Lorenzo was equally lavish in his patronage of artists and the commissioning of great works of art.
Lorenzo, the Magnificent, followed his grandfather’s policies about maintaining a balance of power in Italy. This led Lorenzo and other Northern Italian leaders to negotiate the Treaty of Lodi that brought peace and stability to North and Central Italy.<ref>Hibbert, p. 118</ref> The de Medici through their policies did much to bring peace and security too much of Italy, and this was crucial for the Renaissance <ref>Miles J. Unger, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/074325435X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=074325435X&linkCode=Conclusionas2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ae832840e01fbaf68a8af9739f4806f4 Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de Medici during their rule ]</i>, (London, Simon and Schuster 2008), p. 134</ref> It is not a coincidence that the cultural zenith of the Italian Renaissance occurred when Florence was stable. Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael produced their most celebrated works when Northern Italy was experiencing an unprecedented peaceful period in the fifteen fifteenth century . In this way, the de Medici family helped to create an ideal environment for the great artists of the era to grow and create peerless works of art. <dh-ad/> == How did much to influence the De Medicis revive Greek Knowledge? ==[[File: De Medici One.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Michaelangelo – whose patrons were the De Medici]]The Renaissance was inspired by the Classical World of Ancient Greece and to enable Rome. However, until the great artistsfifteenth century, the Italian humanists, only knew of Ancient Greece and writers, to produce their the great works that have been so influential down of Plato and the other great Greeks through the centuriesRomans. The family brought stability Cosimo the Elder helped to introduce Ancient Greek manuscripts and peace culture into Italy. Cosimo the Elder sought to end the schism in the Christian Church. He helped to negotiate the union of the Catholic and the Orthodox Church that was formalized at the city Council of Florencein 1439. This Union ultimately failed, but it was crucial in to have a profound impact on the development of the cultural flourishing Renaissance. The Byzantine Emperor visited Florence in 1493 to ratify the city in Union, and he was attended by several hundred followers among them the fifteenth centurygreat Neoplatonist philosopher George Gemistos Plethon.<ref> Miles, p. The de Medici largely peaceful rule did much 123</ref> Cosimo had failed to promote achieve a lasting union between the Renaissance in eastern and the citywestern Church. They also However, he inspired renewed interest in their relations with the other city-states did much works of the Greeks as he patronized several Greek scholars from Byzantium and appeared to bring peace to North Italyhave secured some manuscripts that were previously unknown in Florence. Then In the Byzantine Empire, there were many great works from the de Medici Greek past that were very instrumental unknown in Italy. The city of Florence soon became the growing center for the study of Ancient Greek culture and Neoplatonism, became very influential.<ref>Hibbert, p. 134</ref> The increasing interest in Greek culture was to direct the Renaissance in new directions and inspired a new generation of writers and historyphilosophers such as Pico Della Mirandola. == Why were the De Medici art patrons? ==[[File:Medici Two. Cosimo jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Lorenzo the Magnificent]]All of the de Medici had an interest in the arts in the fifteenth century and his policies promotedart was used to legitimize the family's rule of Florence. The works commissioned by the family often sought to raise the status of the family in the city. They used art to fortify their position in Florentine Society. However, the family was also genuinely fond of art, unintentionallyarchitecture, and literature. Cosimo was very knowledgeable about architecture and Lorenzo the study Magnificent was a connoisseur of paintings and sculptures. The Medici’s used their lavish wealth to patronize many of the works greatest artists of the Greekstime. This The family was to move directly responsible for some of the greatest works in the Renaissance in new directions. Cosimo the Elder was the patron of the great architect Bruneschelli, especially and it was under De Medici orders that he built the influence great Medici Sacristy in the Church of NeoplatonismSan Lorenzo. Then there It was Cosimo who ordered the patronage building of the de great De MediciPalace with its magnificent paintings by Uccello. It was Cosimo who also commissioned Donatello's, Bronze of David, one of the most influential pieces of sculpture in the family directly helped many great period.<ref> Hibbert, p. 134</ref> Lorenzo was equally lavish in his patronage of artists to produce many new and the commissioning of great works of art. He is widely seen as perhaps the greatest patron of the arts in Renaissance Italy, but this view has been challenged in recent decades. He also commissioned works from great artists such as Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio, and Verrocchio. Moreover, Lorenzo established a sculpture garden at San Marco, where he encouraged the Magnificent especially helped young Michelangelo to raise study works from the Classical Period. Michelangelo produced his first significant works under the status patronage of Lorenzo.<ref>Miles, p 145</ref> Michelangelo formed part of Lorenzo’s household, and he treated artists as the artists equals of humanist scholars and poets. Lorenzo's treatment of articles was unprecedented in Florentine societyRepublican Florence, where painters and sculptors had only been ranked as mere tradesmen or common craftsmen. '<ref> Miles, 117</ref> By This treatment raised the time status of their expulsion the artists in 1494, the family eyes of Florentine society and this was to produce an environment where they had made more freedom of expression, and this enabled them to produce many great artworks.<ref>Strathern, p 65</ref> Lorenzo not only patronized these great artists but they also patronized many humanists and writers and they all helped to make Florence a significant contribution leading intellectual center. Ironically, it has been suggested that the de Medici’s lavish expenditure on the arts and buildings led to their financial difficulties from the development of the Renaissance1480s onwards, which has been crucial contributed to their ‘expulsion from the city in the evolution of the modern world1494. <ref>Miles, p 134 </ref><div class="portal" style=References==<references/'float:right; width:35%'>
*[[Why did the Italian Renaissance End?]]
*[[How did the Bubonic Plague make the Italian Renaissance possible?]]
*[[What was the Borgias contribution to Renaissance Italy?]]
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== Were the De Medici family important during the Renaissance? ==
The de Medici during their rule of Florence in the fifteenth century did much to influence the Renaissance and to enable the great artists, humanists, and writers, to produce their works that have been so influential down the centuries. The family brought stability and peace to the city of Florence. This was crucial in the cultural flourishing in the city in the fifteenth century. The de Medici's largely peaceful rule did much to promote the Renaissance in the city. They also in their relations with the other city-states did much to bring peace to North Italy. Then the de Medici was very instrumental in the growing interest in Greek culture and history.
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Updated May 6, 2019
[[Category:Italian History]] [[Category:Renaissance History]] [[Category:European History]][[category:wikis]]