MY+NOTES+(TJ)

TJ Cooke 3/21/12   Period 1/2 HLOG 8
 * Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance.
 * The Medici’s had taken over Florence, even though their enemies had appeared to rule over the country.
 * Another factor of the Medici’s rise to power were that the Bardi and Peruzzi banks would soon collapse, making room for the Medici to dominate Florence.
 * Florentine’s citizens had begun to demand products and services, which led to the development of the classes of merchants, artisans, and bankers.
 * People argue that the Renaissance only existed because there was an economical recession beforehand.
 * The few very wealthy people had very few to invest their money in, and therefore decided to use it for education and art.
 * //Estimated at population of 94,000 before Black Death; 25,000 supported by wool industry //
 * //Ruled (well, swayed by, rather) by the Albizzi family from 1382-1434 after the Revolt of the Ciompi, which was an uprising against oligarchic rule. //
 * //15th century-Florence among the largest cities of Europe, rich and economically successful. //
 * The Medici bank was the largest bank in Europe during the Renaissance.
 * In 1433, the Albizzi family had succeeded in exiling Cosimo de Medici. However, in the following year, the democracy had elected a pro-Medici, otherwise known as a Signoria, and Cosimo returned to Florence.
 * Lorenzo, a descendant of the Medicis, was considered to be one of the most important encouragers of the arts in the Renaissance. He was known as, “Lorenzo the Magnificent” for this.
 * There was a republican institution in the Renaissance, but they had absolutely no power whatsoever.
 * Renaissance ideals had begun in Florence, and had continued to spread throughout the neighboring states of Tuscany, such as Lucca and Siena.
 *  The Medici line declined soon after the Renaissance, and had become extinct.

(Note: the italicized bullet points were written by Emilie.)