The rule of the Medici family in Florence had an enormous influence on the city-state and on the Renaissance in Italy and Europe. The Medici family advanced the cultural and civic life of Florence, making it the cultural center of all Europe. Politically the Medici, especially Lorenzo deÆMedici, was responsible for establishing the peace of all Italy at a time when the country consisted of competing city-states and the attempts of foreign powers for control. During the familyÆs early years in Florence, in the late Italian Renaissance, their political and economic power, coupled with their patronage of the arts, made them the most significant figures in the social, cultural, political and economic development of the Northern Italian Renaissance as a whole. In addition, the contributions of the Medici family members were vital in achieving the transition from the medieval to the modern periods. This paper will examine the Medici family and its influence on the development of Italy.
The Medici were farmers who lived in the Italian countryside until moving to Florence in the 13th Century where they initially became merchants and bankers, and later rose to prominence as a family of great wealth and political influence. Within a few generations, the Medici became ôthe unofficial rulers of the republic of Florence and afterwards the recognized sovereigns of Tuscany (Catholic Encyclopedia: House of Medici).
During the Renaissance period, Italy was divided into a number of political entities, many of which were controlled by major cities such as Florence, Venice and Milan. Often wealthy family in those cities had more political power than the official government leaders. The Medici family serves as an example of this situation. During the late Renaissance period, ôwhile keeping up a pretense of popular control and adroitly managing public opinion, the Medici House directed the government unofficially for almost a centuryö (Kirchn...