How Did The Medici Family Influence The Renaissance

The Renaissance was a period in history after the Middle Ages between the 13thand 15th century of the rebirth of Florence for the Romans and Greek in Western Europe. The Medici family were very influential and played an important role in European politics and made a substantial impact to the growth of the city.

The Medici’s were wool merchants and later bankers who used their money and power to build the city of Florence and to promote the study of literature, art and the concepts of Humanism. The Medici family contributed significantly to the European and Italian Renaissance. Their role as a family was to build Florence and make it into a prosperous city; in which they had succeed in. They worked as Bankers, leaders of the renaissance, and

rulers of Florence.
The family originated from the Mugello Valley in northern Tuscany. This is the earliest record that there is on the origin of the Medici Family, before they immigrated to Florence around 1200 in search of wealth, which they were successful in finding. They were able to move up from merchants, to middle-class citizens, to politicians, rulers, and popes. Many merchants at this time were also successful in becoming profitable, and the middle-class citizens were also able to live more comfortable by having more leisure time; but only the Medici’s were ones that became the most successful.
The Medici family first started their family business and built their wealth through wool trade.

They then moved into banking in 1397, creating the largest bank in Europe “The Medici Bank”; in which they owned most of their wealth and power to. This made them become the most prosperous, powerful and respected family in all of Europe. With this prosperity, power, and respect they also gained political power. They were able to build their political power through connections by marrying into royal or elite families, employment, and business partnerships. Giving them a dominant position within the political prospect. Florence thrived during the Renaissance because of their access of communication to the countries around them. Their access to other countries through their wool trade created an opening too many new things. Giovanni and Cosimo de Medici were able use banking to make Florence a network for finance. With these networks established, Florence became an opening for many new things that they could introduce or to help build their city. Because of these connections Florence and Rome were able to remain on good terms during the time of the Renaissance. Europe was now open and exposed to new ideas from other lands that they were able to use and incorporate within their country. After the death of Giovanni Medici, his son Cosimo de Medici took on his father’s legacy. He was able to uphold his father’s work and power and build power of his own. He became the ruler of Florence

but continued to hold onto his title as a citizen of Florence but ruled his city from behind the scenes.
Some of the several deeds that the Medici family presented during the Renaissance era was when they first became wealthy.

While they ruled the city of Florence they had part-taken in many incredible acts, such as investing money within their city, and making it the most powerful state in Italy. They also made it the world's most beautiful city. An exceptional amount of art and architecture that was created in Florence in the beginning of the Renaissance was the act of the Medici family. It became the artistic center of Europe and was known as an “art center and cradle of New Humanism”. They also invested some of their wealth in building churches, and creating the largest library in Europe; they conveyed many Greek sources. They founded the Platonic Academy and were patrons of artists. He supported them by feeding them, educating them, and providing them with the necessities. Some of those artists were Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The family also did a lot of charitable acts such as educating his people of literature and the

arts.
The Medici used their wealth not only to gain more wealth but to build a reputation and implement power and influence as well. They matured profoundly into politics, ruling Florence for more than a century. They used a lot of their power to help the poorer citizens and to encourage artists to display and produce greater and better work. Many of Florence's most identifiable buildings and features exist because of the Medici family.