Summary: The Medicis

The Renaissance period was the period that was referred to as the "the rebirth" of Classical culture. During this era, many Italians believed that they observed the rebirth of antiquity or Greco-roman civilization (334). Throughout this time period, the art that came out was similar to the growth that happened in philosophy, literature, music and science. Renaissance art focused more on humans, the accurate portrayal of the natural world as well as the old architecture of the Romans. The Renaissance art was reflected politically because during this time, the cities were ruled by wealthy families. Families such as the Medici family were extremely powerful and influential during this time (335). In their prime days, the Medici family was considered the most influential money lenders and best bank in Europe (335).

The First Security Bank (FSB) of Malta, Montana fall victim to a crime of credit card fraud, money laundering, and embezzlement. The crime stared a small city in Montano with a couple thousand, who was startled from the crime. The vice president of operation of the bank was a pillar of the community and the suspect of the bank’s crime. The scheme was committed over a long period of time. This crime weakens the foundation of the bank and possible may run it out of business. The committee was in a frenzy with the bank and the suspect about spending the community’s money. The shareholders gave the president “30 days to clean up the bank or pawn the bank off to another financial institution.” (Volz p.1) However, the bank pulls through the crisis and gains more customer as the business begins the recover period.

* Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo the Magnificent, ruled Florence in a totalitarian fashion during the last quarter century of the fifteenth century

Cosimo de’ Medici was born on September 27, 1389 in Florence, Italy at the time his family was middle class bankers. At a young age his father Giovanni, introduced his son to the family business of banking. As Cosimo grew older, he took on more duties in the family business and eventually became the head of the bank the family owned. When he was a young man he had an important relationship with the Catholic Church, at this time the Church was the dominant religious faith of Europe, the one most powerful men in Europe was the Pope. Cosimo recognized the important role of the Catholic Church and made a friendship with the Pope. After this relationship the Medici banks were handling most of the Church’s financial accounts. Some

Giovanni De Bicci De Medici: Giovanni established political and financial power of the Medicis and was one of the richest bankers in Italy because he was also the Medici bank founder. Giovanni was the first Medici to really like the looks of art and decorate his house with it and support

During most of the Renaissance in Italy, the Medici family controlled Florence. They were most known for their success in banking and commerce. In these ways they were one of the main reasons for the political development of Florence. They were also known to be one of the biggest patrons of the arts of the time. Giovanni de Medici established in 1397 that Florence would be the Medici’s home. Giovanni was an influential, wealthy citizen, who was also the banker to the papal court. There was even a point in his life that he had even held every political office in Florence. He like most of his family, supported the arts and was a well-known patron. In 1429

The Renaissances’ in both parts of Europe had patronage-minded families; the Italian had the Medici family and the Northern had the Dukes of Burgundy. But

Florence was exposed to the principles and ideologies of foreign regions and immersed them into the art and literature produced thereafter. That then percolated to the rest of the other European nations and the rest of Italy itself. The Medici maintained these connections rooted and stable by way of finance and politics and guaranteed that Florence, throughout the Renaissance, was an advocate of the arts. Furthermore, had it not been for the establishment of a connection between the Medici and the Papacy, Florence and Rome, it seems, may have actually been rivals grown under the essence of partnership and collaboration during the Renaissance. Rome supplied many Florentine artists with a harbor, and, in turn, Florence took advantage of the administration of the papal funds.

A few years later, Giovanni established the first Medici bank in Florence with a branch in Rome. A couple years after that, he opened a branch in Naples and Venice (Parks, XI). Baldassare Cossa, a pirate whose ambition was to become Pope was one of Giovanni’s first clients (PBS: Godfathers of the Renaissance). With the help of Giovanni, Cossa got his wish and became Pope in 1410. His bank flourished due to Baldassare Cossa’s success in becoming Pope. Dealing with the papacy had opened up new doors into the Church for Giovanni. It drastically increased the number of clients Giovanni affiliated with. He didn’t achieve much compared to his sons and grandchildren but because established the first Medici Bank, he helped his family acquire great wealth and popularity.

Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici founded the Medici bank in 1397 after splitting from his nephew to establish a bank branch in Florence. As the new bank grew and expanded, so did the wealth and power of the Medici family. When Cosimo il Vecchio de’ Medici, Giovanni’s son, took over the banking business in 1434, the increasing economic power of the Medici family allowed them to establish themselves as effective rulers of Florence while keeping the republican system of government nominally intact. The bank provided the Medici family a combination of economic and political power that facilitated the stability of Medici rule. Thus, the failure of the Medici bank during the reign of Lorenzo il Magnifico was key to the collapse of the Medici

(Medici) In the Florentine republic, where economic power was almost synonymous with political power, achieving this financial feat made way for social distinction. (The Medici)

Merchants and bankers were the most socially mobile group in the renaissance. The often started from humble beginnings- as peddlers or craftsmen, for example- and exploited new commercial opportunities to become very wealthy. Once they were rich, they tried to behave like the nobility. Many became patrons and leaders of society (“Social Order” pp.58).

The House of Medici, or the Medici family, was a very influential and extremely powerful family during the time of the Renaissance in Italy. The Renaissance took place starting in the late 14th century. During this time, the people started to take interest in and have an appreciation for the classical times. The beginning of this powerful family really begins with Giovanni di Bicci deˈ Medici. He was born in the year 1360 in Florence, Italy. Originally from the Tuscan hillside, the Medici family immigrated to Florence during the 12th century. Giovanni di Bicci deˈ Medici was the man who really got the family moving. He founded the Medici Bank and began using money to gain influence. The Medici Bank eventually became the official bank of

The focus of this investigation will be “The Medici family supported the artists of the Renaissance era by providing them financial support, throughout mentorship and because of the prevailing philosophy and humanism.” This investigation will focus on the background of the Medici family and how they supported artists of the Renaissances era. This investigation will use a primary source from an artist's work and a secondary source relating to the Medici family uprising.San Lorenzo (church). Medici chapel. Tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici which held Sculptures by Michelangelo and Adrien, De Roover Raymond. The Rise and Decline of the Medici Bank, 1397-1494. Norton Library, 2012.Both sources provide background to the Renaissance time period and how the Medic family treated artists with their power. The two sources are examples of how the Medicis changed the renaissance era through their money and power to pursue artists for their own benefit and for the time periods.

The members of the Medici bank also did their work sitting on benches and behind tables. The first location was in Via dell Arte della Lana, also known as, Wool Guild Street. Since they were confronted with different currencies they took out a commission for the conversion of the currency instead of charging interest. Since no interest was applied, there was no sin. Little by little they started expanding into areas such as Florence, Venice, and Rome. The Medici bank was doing everything right. They soon grew to be a powerful financial unit in