World HistoryWorld History

Florence Leads the WayFlorence Leads the Way

(15:2)(15:2)

QuattrocentoQuattrocento

The century in which the Renaissance The century in which the Renaissance fully bloomed (1400’s)fully bloomed (1400’s)

This was the time in which history’s most This was the time in which history’s most celebrated writers and artists competed for the celebrated writers and artists competed for the spotlightspotlight

The MediciThe Medici

Powerful family which gained wealth and Powerful family which gained wealth and notoriety through trade and bankingnotoriety through trade and banking

Ruled the city-state of Florence during Ruled the city-state of Florence during the Quattrocentothe Quattrocento

Cosimo de Medici was the most powerful and Cosimo de Medici was the most powerful and wealthy man in Florencewealthy man in Florence

Never sought political office for himself; puppet Never sought political office for himself; puppet regimeregime

Cosimo de MediciCosimo de Medici

Emulating Pericles of Emulating Pericles of Athens, Cosimo Athens, Cosimo invested his own invested his own money into Florencemoney into Florence

Once paid the Once paid the debts of a friend debts of a friend in exchange for in exchange for 800 texts (some 800 texts (some ancient) and ancient) and opened the first opened the first free public free public librarylibrary

CosimoCosimo

Cosimo de Medici died in 1464, but the Cosimo de Medici died in 1464, but the family still held control of Florencefamily still held control of Florence

Power was eventually passed to his grandson, Power was eventually passed to his grandson, Lorenzo (the Magnificent) Lorenzo (the Magnificent)

Lorenzo ruled with absolute power with a republican Lorenzo ruled with absolute power with a republican frontfront

Kept the people happyKept the people happy

Survived an attempted assassination by Pope Survived an attempted assassination by Pope Sixtus IV and the archbishop of PisaSixtus IV and the archbishop of Pisa

Wouldn’t provide a loan to buy ImolaWouldn’t provide a loan to buy Imola

Lorenzo the MagnificentLorenzo the Magnificent

On his death bed Lorenzo was damned On his death bed Lorenzo was damned by Savonarola by Savonarola

Savonarola was later tortured and executed for his Savonarola was later tortured and executed for his religious beliefsreligious beliefs

It is said that at the moment of Lorenzo’s It is said that at the moment of Lorenzo’s death the chapel at the church of Santa death the chapel at the church of Santa Reparta was struck by lightningReparta was struck by lightning

Saint Reparata – 3Saint Reparata – 3rdrd Century Saint Century Saint Mythical figure denounced for being a ChristianMythical figure denounced for being a Christian

Artists in FlorenceArtists in Florence

Lorenzeo GhibertiLorenzeo Ghiberti Comissioned to produce doors to an eight Comissioned to produce doors to an eight

sided cathedralsided cathedral The doors were made of bronze, with intricate sculpted The doors were made of bronze, with intricate sculpted

panelspanels Michelangelo referred to the final two doors as the Michelangelo referred to the final two doors as the

“Gates of Paradise” (The name stuck)“Gates of Paradise” (The name stuck)

BrunelleschiBrunelleschi

Worked across the street while Lorenzo Worked across the street while Lorenzo Ghiberti worked on the BaptistryGhiberti worked on the Baptistry

Was denied the job Ghiberti acceptedWas denied the job Ghiberti accepted

Proposed putting a dome on top of the Baptistry Proposed putting a dome on top of the Baptistry making it almost 400 feet highmaking it almost 400 feet high

Considering this was built in 1436, that is a Considering this was built in 1436, that is a substantial heightsubstantial height

DonatelloDonatello

Studied under Ghiberti at the age of 17Studied under Ghiberti at the age of 17 Studied classical and ancient ruins in RomeStudied classical and ancient ruins in Rome Returned to Florence, ignoring the typical “front Returned to Florence, ignoring the typical “front

side only” statuesside only” statues Created three-dimensional, free standing statuesCreated three-dimensional, free standing statues

Erasmo of Narni (1370 - 1443), better known as "Gattamelata", (nickname meaning "The Honeyed Cat") was among the most famous of the condottieri or mercenaries in the Italian Renaissance. He was born in Narni, and served a number of Italian city-states: he began with Braccio da Montone, served Pope and Florence equally, and served Venice in 1434 in the battles with the Visconti of Milan.He was the subject of Donatello's equestrian bronze sculpture in the main square of Padua, the same city over which he became dictator in 1437.

MasaccioMasaccio

Changed painting by adding perspectiveChanged painting by adding perspective A vanishing point, adding depth and distance to the A vanishing point, adding depth and distance to the

paintingpainting

Called the “father of modern painting”Called the “father of modern painting” Progress is obvious in “The Healing of the Progress is obvious in “The Healing of the

Cripple and the Resurrection of Tabitha”Cripple and the Resurrection of Tabitha” Two events in the life of the apostle PeterTwo events in the life of the apostle Peter

Masaccio’s “Trinity”

Machiavelli and PoliticsMachiavelli and Politics

The Golden Age lasted until 1492 when The Golden Age lasted until 1492 when King Charles VII of France attacked King Charles VII of France attacked Northern ItalyNorthern Italy

Florence just happened to be in his attack routeFlorence just happened to be in his attack route

Piero de Medici (Lorenzo’s son) surrendered Piero de Medici (Lorenzo’s son) surrendered almost immediatelyalmost immediately

He then went into exile after his palace was stormed by He then went into exile after his palace was stormed by angry Floretinesangry Floretines

MachiavelliMachiavelli

In the early 1500’s the Italian city-states In the early 1500’s the Italian city-states allied themselves with foreign powers for allied themselves with foreign powers for survivalsurvival

Enter Machiavelli, who saw what life was like in Enter Machiavelli, who saw what life was like in the Golden Age of the Renaissance and what it the Golden Age of the Renaissance and what it had now becomehad now become

MachiavelliMachiavelli

Serving as a diplomat to many courts, Serving as a diplomat to many courts, Machiavelli tried to understand why some Machiavelli tried to understand why some rulers succeed while others failedrulers succeed while others failed Machiavelli wrote Machiavelli wrote The PrinceThe Prince, a book of , a book of

adviceadvice Pointed out that sometimes a ruler may have to Pointed out that sometimes a ruler may have to

deceive enemies as well as his own people for the deceive enemies as well as his own people for the good of the kingdomgood of the kingdom

Machiavelli Machiavelli

““The end justifies the means”The end justifies the means” Morally right v. Politically effectiveMorally right v. Politically effective

Is this prevalent in our society?Is this prevalent in our society?