Transcript CHYtheMedicis

The Medici
Humble Beginnings

The Medici family were a merchant banking family
from the back streets of Florence, Italy.

They would rise from very humble beginnings to
become one of the most famous families in Western
history as they shaped the economics, politics and art
of the Renaissance
The Times
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As we have discussed the Church was the identity of
the community in Renaissance Europe
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They held almost total control of all aspects of social
and political ideals of society
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But even the Church needed bankers and this is
where the Medici would come into play
Cosimo Medici
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June 15, 1519 - April 21, 1574
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Searched for answers among the
artifacts in the church catacombs
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He would find many secrets
from the Ancient world that had
been kept hidden by the Catholic
Church
Cosimo continued…
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Among the ancient artifacts
were: writings by Greek
philosophers such as Plato and
Aristotle, written histories from
Rome and even the recipes for
building materials such as
concrete
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Cosimo would use these findings
to build his wealth and ultimate
influence that would last for the
remainder of the Renaissance
and ensure his family’s fortunes
for years to come
Filippo Brunelleschi
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One of his first major endeavors
was to finish the building of the
church in Florence, which had
sat dormant for years
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To do so he would hire a
madman to help him through
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This madman was Filippo
Brunelleschi
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He would spark an architectural
revolution across Europe
Il Duomo
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The completion of Il Duomo represents the greatest
architectural feat in the Western world
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It was estimated to weigh 37,000 tons and was
comprised of 4 million bricks
Rival Families
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Political power and influence in Florence was in the
hands of a few families that vide for control of the
city
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The Albizi Family rivaled that of Medici and
hatched a plot to rid themselves of their enemies
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Cosimo was accused of heresy and the Medici were
banished from Florence
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Economics
The Medici Bank
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Power was restored by Cosimo in Florence
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Expands the Medici Bank internationally
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Collects from every parish in Europe
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Becomes the most powerful business in Europe
The Arts
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Cosimo was also very interested
in the arts
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Patronage
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Donotello’s “David” becomes
very controversial
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Homosexual overtones
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14,000 people are prosecuted in
Florence in 1434 for sodomy and
homosexual activities
Donotello’s “David”
Patra Patriae
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When Cosimo dies in 1464 he is given the name
Patra Patriae by the people of Florence
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Father of the Fatherland
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Cosimo’s two sons Lorenzo and Juliano would be
heir to the Medici fortunes
Two Houses Unite
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Lorenzo marries in 1469 to a
noble daughter of Roman
aristocracy and military might
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This now solidifies the bloodline
of the Medici family and their
influence now extends along the
Italian peninsula
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Lorenzo would rule Florence
almost like a mini-dictatorship
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It was government by personal
loyalty
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The Pazzi Coup (April 26th, 1478)
The Art of the
Renaissance
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Flourishes under Lorenzo
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Botticelli: the most radical of
Renaissance artists. La Primavera
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Da Vinci
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Michelangelo
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Lorenzo the Magnificent, spends
money virtuously through
patronage
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Establishes first art school in 1488
Works of Da Vinci
The Last Supper
Michelangelo Buonarroti
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Michelangelo is 13 when he first meets Lorenzo
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He is brought into their home and raised like one of the his
own sons
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Joins the art school and becomes one of the greats
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A tireless workaholic, that never slept
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Creates David, a centre piece for Florence
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Has a falling out with the Medici and moves to Rome where
he is commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
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This is considered by most to be the greatest work of art
during the Renaissance
The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel
Creation of Adam
Michelangelo’s David
Savanarola
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A monk turned fiery preacher believes
Lorenzo was leading Florence on a
path towards destruction
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Florence splits into two distinct groups
intellectual/secular group and the more
traditional religious groups
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Savanarola’s word spreads and his
congregation grows in popularity
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What begins is a fundamental regime
created to re-establish the Kingdom of
God on Earth
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Lorenzo dies in 1492 and Savanarola
eventually takes power after the Medici
are exiled in 1494
The Bonfire of the Vanities
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The Bonfire of the Vanities
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People encouraged to burn all
items that are associated with sin
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Including pagan books,
sculptures, cosmetics, fine
clothing, works of art and even
trade
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His reign in Florence only lasts a
few years due to the economic
decline
Heretic!!!
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Savanarola is eventually
executed in May of 1498 for
heresy
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He was actually executed on the
very spot where he conducted
the Bonfire of the Vanities a year
earlier
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He was burned at the stake but
not before spending days on the
rack
The Medici Popes
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The Medici would eventually return to Florence after
years of exile by raising a papal army and taking the
city by force
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Giovanni de Medici, (the second son of Lorenzo)
would eventually become Pope Leo X
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His cousin, would later succeed him as Pope
Clement VII (1523–34).
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He is known primarily for the
sale of indulgences to
reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica
and his challenging of Martin
Luther's 95 Theses.
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The Medici family would
continue to have influence if not
rule over Florence until the 18th
century when the line eventually
bred itself out with the lack of a
male heir.
Legacy
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The biggest accomplishments of
the Medici were in the sponsorship
of art and architecture, mainly
early and High Renaissance art
and architecture.
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The Medici were responsible for
the majority of Florentine art
during their reign and the greatest
artists of the Renaissance worked
under their commissions including
Donatello, Michelangelo
Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci,
and later Rafael
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They even influenced science
and were well known to have
been the patrons of the famous
Galileo Galilei, who tutored
multiple generations of Medici
children.