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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.

==De Medici-Background==The Medici family originally originate in a small village to the north This contribution was through their patronage of Florence. In the thirteenth century, the first Medici arrived arts in their native Florence. The family soon prospered in their new home. The early De Medici’s made and their money in the wool trade. They used the profits policies that they made favored peace and stability in the wool trade to diversify their business interestsItaly. Giovanni di Bicci The de' Medici (c. 1360–1429), increased the wealth of the family Medicis made a real and established telling contribution to the Medici Bankarts, politics, and became one stability of Italy and encouraged the richest men in the city of Florence.<ref> Hibbert, Christopher. The House of Medici: Its Rise intellectual and Fall. Morrow (London, Morrow, 1975) </ref> The Medici cultural flourishing that became involved in politics and they were often involved with the popular party in Florence. In general, the Medici liked to influence politics from behind the scene and used their wealth and connections to achieve their goals. In 1434 Cosimo the Elder was elected known as one of the leaders of the Florentine Republic and although he was only one of several magistrates who ruled the city he came to dominate it.<ref> Ferdinand Schevill, <i>History of Florence: From the Founding of the City Through the Renaissance</i> (London, Frederick Ungar, 1936), p. 113</ref>

====De Medici-Background====The city’s artists and writers took advantage Medici family originally originate in a small village to the north of Florence. In the thirteenth century, the peace and stability to develop 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 the times(c.<ref> Martines1360–1429), p. 145</ref> They were largely secular in outlook increased the wealth of the family and their power meant that established the city’s artists Medici Bank, and writers did not have to fear from became one of the richest men in the Inquisition or clerical interferencecity of Florence.<ref>SchevillHibbert, pChristopher. 117<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0688053394/ref> =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0688053394&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=3a60f5b995328d84b5c49af6c25a9362 The House of Medici, especially Lorenzo the Magnificent were broad-minded, indeed Lorenzo was himself a distinguished poet and this led to an atmosphere where new ideas : Its Rise and practices were encouraged and even promoted in Florence.Fall]<ref/i> Strathern. Morrow (London, p. 117Morrow, 1975) </ref> The de Medic had long been associated Medici became involved in politics, and they were often involved with the Humanistspopular party in Florence. Lorenzo In general, the Medici liked to influence politics from behind the Magnificent was himself taught by a well-known Humanist scene and used their wealth and connections to achieve their goals. In 1434 Cosimo the Elder 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>

==De Medici Cosimo was a very effective leader and the Peace of Italy==In the fifteenth century conditions in Italy became more peaceful. In previous centuries war was endemic in the Peninsula. There were conflicts between a skilled negotiator, and he brought stability to the city-states and often civil conflicts within themmade it even wealthier. These indeed led to the rise of many tyrants all over Italy especiallyBefore Cosimo, in the 14th century. The De Medici did not like to engage in war city had been regularly disturbed and unsettled by political factions and did not want to expand Florentine territoryinfluential families.<ref> Hibbert, p. 156</ref> They favored peace and believed that war Cosimo was bad for trade. In this, they succeeded by his son Piero who had a decidedly modern outlook. Cosimo the Elder worked tirelessly for peace in little of the North abilities of Italyhis father. He sought died while still quite young and was succeeded by his son Lorenzo, who is known to establish a balance of power in the region between the main powers and the exclusion of foreign powers such history as Lorenzo the French and the Holy Roman EmperorMagnificent. Cosimo helped to negotiate He was an end to a series of wars in Lombardy excellent ruler and helped the main players in Italy, Milan, Naples, Venice brought peace and prosperity to Florence to reach an agreement to respect each other’s territorial integrityand its hinterland.

Lorenzo However, the MagnificentDe Medici business fortunes began to falter, followed his grandfather’s policies with regard to maintaining a balance of power in Italyand this ultimately weakened their hold on Florence. This led him Lorenzo and other Northern Italian leaders to negotiate the Treaty of Lodi that brought peace and stability Medici survived a plot to the North kill them and Central Italyseize power in 1474.<ref> HibbertSchevill, p. 118115</ref> After Lorenzo died, his son became head of Florence but he was incompetent, and he provoked a popular uprising against the family, and this led to their expulsion from Florence from 1494-1512. The Family was restored to Florence in 1512, and they eventually became the Dukes of Florence. However, the glory days were gone, the later de Medici through was not as powerful or as rich as their policies did much to bring peace predecessors, and security to much of Italy Florence became a political and this was crucial for the Renaissance cultural backwater.<ref>Miles J. UngerPaul Strathern, <i>Magnifico[https: //www.amazon.com/gp/product/1844130983/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1844130983&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a398a7e529dca0fff02bd3e08ca6b25a The Brilliant Life and Violent Times Medici—Godfathers of Lorenzo de Medicithe Renaissance]</i>, (London, Simon and Schuster 2008Pimlico, 2005), p. 134213</ref> It is no coincidence that {{Mediawiki:TabletAd1}}====de Medici and Florence====In the zenith of 15th century when the Italian Renaissance when it produced de Medici was at the great works height of Michelangelotheir powers, Leonardothey dominated Florence.<ref> Lauro Martines, <i>[https://www.amazon.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 and Raphaelthe Plot Against the Medici]</i> (Oxford, Oxford University Press 2003, corresponded p. 114)</ref> However, they were eager to appear as first among equals, they went to great lengths to allow the other noble and wealthy families to a relatively peaceful period in Northern Italy secure many of the offices in the fifteen centuryCity-Republic’s government. In this way<ref> Schevill, p. 115</ref> This reconciled many of them to the domination of their Republic by one family. The de Medici helped were fabulously wealthy at least until the 1480s, and their wealth was able to create an ideal environment for smooth out any difficulties that they had experienced and the City of Florence experienced a period of peace and stability because of the great artists de Medici's wealth. This period of tranquility was unique in the era city’s history that well-known for its political turbulence. The de Medici brought stability to grow the city and create peerless works of artthis allowed trade to flourish and also the arts. The stability that the de Medici provided allowed Florence to become a cultural center.

==The De Medici city’s artists and writers took advantage of the revival peace and stability to develop new styles of Greek Learning==[[File: De Medici Oneart in security.jpg|thumbnail|300px|Michaelangelo – whose patrons were Then the De de Medici]]The Renaissance was inspired by were quite tolerant for the Classical World of Ancient Greece and Rometimes. However<ref> Martines, until the fifteenth century, the Italian humanists only knew of Ancient Greece p. 145</ref> They were mostly secular in outlook and their power meant that the great works of Plato city’s artists and writers did not have to fear from the other great Greeks through the RomansInquisition or clerical interference. Cosimo the Elder helped to introduce Ancient Greek manuscripts and culture into Italy<ref>Schevill, p. Cosimo 117</ref> The Medici, especially Lorenzo the Elder sought to end the schism in the Christian ChurchMagnificent was broad-minded. He helped Indeed, Lorenzo was himself a distinguished poet, and this led to negotiate the union of the Catholic an atmosphere where new ideas and practices were encouraged and the Orthodox Church that was formalized at the Council of even promoted in Florence in 1439. This Union ultimately failed but it was to have a profound impact on the development of the Renaissance<ref> Strathern, p. 117</ref>

The Byzantine Emperor visited Florence in 1493 to ratify de Medic had long been associated with the Humanists. Lorenzo the Union Magnificent was himself taught by a well-known Humanist and he was attended by several hundred followers among them the great Neoplatonist philosopher George Gemistos Plethon.<ref> Miles, p. 123</ref> Cosimo had failed sympathetic to achieve a lasting union between the eastern and aims of the western Churchmovement. HoweverFor this reason, he inspired renewed interest humanism and its ideas on human reason and capabilities flourished in the works of the Greeks as he patronized several Greek scholars from Byzantium and appears to have secured some manuscripts that were previously unknown in Florencecity. In the Byzantine EmpireIndeed, there were many great works from the Greek past that humanists such as De Valla were unknown able to secure employment in Italy. The city of Florence soon became the center for de Medici administration and added to the study cultural life of Ancient Greek culture and Neoplatonism, became very influentialthe city.<ref>Hibbert, p. 134167</ref> The increasing interest in Greek culture was to direct the Renaissance in new directions and inspired a new generation of writers and philosophers such as Pico Della Mirandola.

====De Medici as Patronsand the Peace of Italy====[[File:Medici Two.jpg|thumbnail|300px|Lorenzo the Magnificent]]All of the de Medici had an interest in the arts in In the fifteenth centuryconditions in Italy became more peaceful. This In previous centuries war was endemic in order to legitimize the rule of the familyPeninsula. The works commissioned by There were conflicts between the family city-states and often sought civil conflicts within them. These indeed led to raise the status rise of the family many tyrants all over Italy especially, in the city14th century. They used art The De Medici did not like to fortify their position engage in war and did not want to expand Florentine Societyterritory. However<ref>Hibbert, the family p. 156</ref> They favored peace and believed that war was also genuinely fond of artbad for trade. In this, architecture, and literaturethey had a decidedly modern outlook. Cosimo was very knowledgeable about architecture the Elder worked tirelessly for peace in the North of Italy. He sought to establish a balance of power in the region between the main powers and the exclusion of foreign powers such as the French and Lorenzo the Magnificent was Holy Roman Emperor. Cosimo helped to negotiate an end to a connoisseur series of paintings wars in Lombardy and sculptureshelped the main players in Italy, Milan, Naples, Venice, and Florence to reach an agreement to respect each other’s territorial integrity.

The Medici’s used their lavish wealth 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 patronize many of negotiate the greatest artists Treaty of Lodi that brought peace and stability to the timeNorth and Central Italy.<ref>Hibbert, p. 118</ref> The family de Medici through their policies did much to bring peace and security too much of Italy, and this was directly responsible crucial for some of the greatest works in the Renaissance<ref>Miles J. Unger, <i>[https://www.amazon. Cosimo the Elder was the patron of the great architect Bruneschelli com/gp/product/074325435X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=074325435X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ae832840e01fbaf68a8af9739f4806f4 Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and it was under De Medici orders that he built the great Medici Sacristy in the Church Violent Times of San Lorenzode Medici]</i>, (London, Simon and Schuster 2008), p. 134</ref> It was Cosimo who ordered is not a coincidence that the building cultural zenith of the great De Medici Palace with its magnificent paintings by UcelleoItalian Renaissance occurred when Florence was stable. It was Cosimo who also commissioned Donatello's Michelangelo, Bronze of DavidLeonardo, one of the and Raphael produced their most influential pieces of sculpture celebrated works when Northern Italy was experiencing an unprecedented peaceful period in the periodfifteen century.<ref> HibbertIn this way, p. 134</ref> Lorenzo was equally lavish in his patronage the de Medici helped to create an ideal environment for the great artists of artists the era to grow and the commissioning of great create peerless 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 young Michelangelo to study works from the Classical Period. Michelangelo produced his first great works under the patronage of Lorenzo.<ref>Miles, p 145<dh-ad/ref> Michelangelo formed part of Lorenzo’s household, and he treated artists as the equals of humanist scholars and poets.

This ====The De Medici and the revival of Greek Learning====[[File: De Medici One.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Michaelangelo – whose patrons were the De Medici]]The Renaissance was unprecedented in Republican Florence, where painters inspired by the Classical World of Ancient Greece and sculptors had only been ;ranked as mere tradesmen or common craftsmenRome.'<ref> MilesHowever, until the fifteenth century, 117</ref> This raised the status Italian humanists only knew of Ancient Greece and the artists in the eyes great works of Florentine society Plato and this was the other great Greeks through the Romans. Cosimo the Elder helped to produce an environment where they had more freedom of expression introduce Ancient Greek manuscripts and this enabled them culture into Italy. Cosimo the Elder sought to produce many great artworksend the schism in the Christian Church.<ref>Strathern, p 65</ref> Lorenzo not only patronized these great artists but they also patronized many humanists and writers and they all He helped to make negotiate the union of the Catholic and the Orthodox Church that was formalized at the Council of Florence a leading intellectual centerin 1439. IronicallyThis Union ultimately failed, but it has been suggested that the de Medici’s lavish expenditure was to have a profound impact on the arts and buildings led to their financial difficulties from the 1480s onwards, which contributed to their ‘expulsion from development of the city in 1494Renaissance.<ref>Miles, p 134 </ref>

==Conclusion==The de Medici during their rule of Byzantine Emperor visited Florence in the fifteen century did much 1493 to influence ratify the Renaissance Union, and to enable he was attended by several hundred followers among them the great artistsNeoplatonist philosopher George Gemistos Plethon.<ref> Miles, humanistsp. 123</ref> Cosimo had failed to achieve a lasting union between the eastern and the western Church. However, he inspired renewed interest in the works of the Greeks as he patronized several Greek scholars from Byzantium and writersappeared to have secured some manuscripts that were previously unknown in Florence. In the Byzantine Empire, to produce their there were many great works from the Greek past that have been so influential down the centurieswere unknown in Italy. The family brought stability and peace to the city of Florencesoon became the center for the study of Ancient Greek culture and Neoplatonism, became very influential.<ref>Hibbert, p. This 134</ref> The increasing interest in Greek culture was crucial to direct the Renaissance in new directions and inspired a new generation of writers and philosophers such as Pico Della Mirandola. ====De Medici as Patrons====[[File:Medici Two.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Lorenzo the cultural flourishing Magnificent]]All of the de Medici had an interest in the city arts in the fifteenth centuryand art was used to legitimize the family's rule of Florence. The de Medici largely peaceful rule did much works commissioned by the family often sought to promote raise the Renaissance status of the family in the city. They also used art to fortify their position in their relations with the other city-states did much to bring peace to North ItalyFlorentine Society. Then However, the de Medici were very instrumental in the growing interest in Greek culture family was also genuinely fond of art, architecture, and historyliterature. Cosimo de Medici was very knowledgeable about architecture and his policies promoted, unintentionally, 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 great Medici Sacristy in the influence 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 family directly helped many great most influential pieces of sculpture in the 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. Lorenzo He is widely seen as perhaps the Magnificent especially helped to raise the status greatest patron of the artists arts in Renaissance Italy, but this view has been challenged in Florentine societyrecent decades. He also commissioned works from great artists such as Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio, and By the time of their expulsion in 1494Verrocchio. Moreover, Lorenzo established a sculpture garden at San Marco, where he encouraged the family had made a significant contribution young Michelangelo to study works from the development of Classical Period. Michelangelo produced his first significant works under the Renaissance, which has been crucial in the evolution patronage of the modern worldLorenzo. ==References==<referencesref>Miles, p 145</ref> Michelangelo formed part of Lorenzo’s household, and he treated artists as the equals of humanist scholars and poets.

Lorenzo's treatment of articles was unprecedented in Republican Florence, where painters and sculptors had only been ranked as mere tradesmen or common craftsmen.'<ref> Miles, 117</ref> This treatment raised the status of the artists in the eyes of Florentine society and this was to produce an environment where they had 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 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 1480s onwards, which contributed to their ‘expulsion from the city in 1494.<ref>Miles, p 134 </ref><div class="portal" style="'float:right; width:8535%;"'>====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====

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