Cosimo De Medici Research Paper
Cosimo de Medici was a Renaissance banker in his family business (Cosimo de’ Medici). He was known as the greatest patron of his time who was motivated through ambition because of his family (Cosimo de’ Medici). A patron is a person who gives financial support or any other support for an organization, cause, activity, or a person. Medici increased his father’s trading and banking business and became one of the wealthiest man of his time (Cosimo de’ Medici). In 1434 he was recalled from exile and became the unofficial ruler of Florence, Italy until his death on August 1, 1464 (Cosimo de’ Medici). Cosimo de’ Medici rose to power in 1434, and brought great leadership back to Italy after the Dark Ages and Medieval times through his success in the banking industry and trade. Cosimo de’ Medici’s father, Giovanni de’ Medici, died in 1429 and that allows Cosimo to run the family business in the banking industry in Florence
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(Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). While living in the Renaissance, wealth was more important than anything because it allowed people to travel places, receive goods and earn respect because it showed that you are powerful in a way that not many people are. People became jealous of Cosimo’s popularity and fearful of his democratic tendencies because of how powerful he was getting in such a short time and they saw that he could build such a well organized and strong city (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). The Renaissance was the right time for him to gain the respect he needed because he was a wealthy patron who knew a majority about politics and could make the ideal decisions at the ideal time (Osman, 8-9). Although Medici was feared, he got along with the public because he was a patron (The Medici Family). This ensures he got along with the public well because a patron helps people in need of money or any other necessities they need to grow a family (The Medici Family). The Renaissance was a time where people wanted to rebuild their culture (Osman, 10-11). People like Cosimo were good at specific hobbies and practices like painting, writing, and having good political views that people liked. This was called humanism, being focused on what you personally are good at and enjoy (Osman, 11). This helps show Cosimo’s power and popularity by the public realizing that he can help many organizations or individuals on what they need most help in to be successful in what they are trying to accomplish.
Cosimo de Medici brought goods of little weight and high value from the East and lent money to the princely houses of Europe (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group).
Medici would help the less fortunate in town like peasants because they had so little and if more people like you as a leader than you will be more successful in gaining respect which is important at this time (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). Much of his patronage was for churches and monasteries, and in 1436 he initiated the rebuilding of the Dominican monastery of San Marco, whose sole patron he remained until his death (Cosimo de’ Medici). His trade was the “deposit” of Florence. Which means that Medici was the center of trade and people would rely on him (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). Cosimo de Medici knew that good fortune would come to him if he did good deeds. This demonstrates that Cosimo de Medici knew how to navigate through the Renaissance and successfully become the ruler of Florence in 1434 to succeed in trading and the banking industry (Cosimo de’
Medici).
Cosimo de Medici became the unofficial ruler of Florence in 1434 for the rest of his life after Pius II recommended him to rule (Cosimo de’ Medici). This meant that Medici had control of all Politics in Florence and he would be able to change whatever regulations whenever he wanted. He controlled both the foreign and domestic affairs of Florence, using his prestige and his money to keep his adherents in the government (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). Cosimo promptly reformed the system of taxation, changing from a fixed income tax to a graduated one. This placed a heavier burden on the wealthy, who grumbled that the Medici tyrant was using the tax as a weapon against them (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). He also had a grasp on imports and exports in Florence. Along with the physical adornment of Florence and its environs, Cosimo provided its cultural life by giving a rebirth of classical culture (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). It allowed people like Filippo Brunelleschi to achieve impressive feats of architecture by restoring the church of St. Lorenzo (Cosimo De Medici). He sent ships East in order to acquire manuscripts from ancient writers and he hired scribes to copy what he was unable to get on his own. The valuable manuscripts were given to the monastery of S. Marco and the abbey at Fiesole. These manuscripts were made available for public use. Although Cosimo never had his own artistic accomplishments, he is an innovator in the sense of his contributions towards the city of Florence (Cosimo De Medici). This demonstrates that he was able to control all parts of Florence and still be able to apply his success to the banking and trade industries.
Cosimo also adopted the policy, already traditional in his family, of supporting the lesser guilds and the poor against the wealthy aristocracy which ruled the city (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). Politics wanted to destroy him and his family because they were much more advanced than the rest of the town (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). People tried to put him to death because of how popular he was and powerful (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). But he succeeded in buying the favor of Bernardo Guadagni, the gonfalonier of justice, for 1,000 ducats (about $25,000) (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). This demonstrates that he was over powerful and unstoppable with all the money he has earned from trade and banking (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group).
Cosimo de’ Medici rose to power in 1434 and brought great leadership back to Italy after the Dark Ages and Medieval times because of his success in the banking industry and his trade. Medici knew how to control Florence, Italy well enough to be wealthy, organized and recognized throughout the years he was in charge. He proved that he could take over his father's banking and trade industry and rule Florence during its time of rebuilding. He used methods that were new to the world like humanism. What also helped him be successful was that he was liked by the people and that being a patron can really help your successes.
(Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). While living in the Renaissance, wealth was more important than anything because it allowed people to travel places, receive goods and earn respect because it showed that you are powerful in a way that not many people are. People became jealous of Cosimo’s popularity and fearful of his democratic tendencies because of how powerful he was getting in such a short time and they saw that he could build such a well organized and strong city (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). The Renaissance was the right time for him to gain the respect he needed because he was a wealthy patron who knew a majority about politics and could make the ideal decisions at the ideal time (Osman, 8-9). Although Medici was feared, he got along with the public because he was a patron (The Medici Family). This ensures he got along with the public well because a patron helps people in need of money or any other necessities they need to grow a family (The Medici Family). The Renaissance was a time where people wanted to rebuild their culture (Osman, 10-11). People like Cosimo were good at specific hobbies and practices like painting, writing, and having good political views that people liked. This was called humanism, being focused on what you personally are good at and enjoy (Osman, 11). This helps show Cosimo’s power and popularity by the public realizing that he can help many organizations or individuals on what they need most help in to be successful in what they are trying to accomplish.
Cosimo de Medici brought goods of little weight and high value from the East and lent money to the princely houses of Europe (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group).
Medici would help the less fortunate in town like peasants because they had so little and if more people like you as a leader than you will be more successful in gaining respect which is important at this time (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). Much of his patronage was for churches and monasteries, and in 1436 he initiated the rebuilding of the Dominican monastery of San Marco, whose sole patron he remained until his death (Cosimo de’ Medici). His trade was the “deposit” of Florence. Which means that Medici was the center of trade and people would rely on him (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). Cosimo de Medici knew that good fortune would come to him if he did good deeds. This demonstrates that Cosimo de Medici knew how to navigate through the Renaissance and successfully become the ruler of Florence in 1434 to succeed in trading and the banking industry (Cosimo de’
Medici).
Cosimo de Medici became the unofficial ruler of Florence in 1434 for the rest of his life after Pius II recommended him to rule (Cosimo de’ Medici). This meant that Medici had control of all Politics in Florence and he would be able to change whatever regulations whenever he wanted. He controlled both the foreign and domestic affairs of Florence, using his prestige and his money to keep his adherents in the government (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). Cosimo promptly reformed the system of taxation, changing from a fixed income tax to a graduated one. This placed a heavier burden on the wealthy, who grumbled that the Medici tyrant was using the tax as a weapon against them (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). He also had a grasp on imports and exports in Florence. Along with the physical adornment of Florence and its environs, Cosimo provided its cultural life by giving a rebirth of classical culture (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). It allowed people like Filippo Brunelleschi to achieve impressive feats of architecture by restoring the church of St. Lorenzo (Cosimo De Medici). He sent ships East in order to acquire manuscripts from ancient writers and he hired scribes to copy what he was unable to get on his own. The valuable manuscripts were given to the monastery of S. Marco and the abbey at Fiesole. These manuscripts were made available for public use. Although Cosimo never had his own artistic accomplishments, he is an innovator in the sense of his contributions towards the city of Florence (Cosimo De Medici). This demonstrates that he was able to control all parts of Florence and still be able to apply his success to the banking and trade industries.
Cosimo also adopted the policy, already traditional in his family, of supporting the lesser guilds and the poor against the wealthy aristocracy which ruled the city (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). Politics wanted to destroy him and his family because they were much more advanced than the rest of the town (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). People tried to put him to death because of how popular he was and powerful (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). But he succeeded in buying the favor of Bernardo Guadagni, the gonfalonier of justice, for 1,000 ducats (about $25,000) (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group). This demonstrates that he was over powerful and unstoppable with all the money he has earned from trade and banking (Cosimo de’ Medici, The Gale group).
Cosimo de’ Medici rose to power in 1434 and brought great leadership back to Italy after the Dark Ages and Medieval times because of his success in the banking industry and his trade. Medici knew how to control Florence, Italy well enough to be wealthy, organized and recognized throughout the years he was in charge. He proved that he could take over his father's banking and trade industry and rule Florence during its time of rebuilding. He used methods that were new to the world like humanism. What also helped him be successful was that he was liked by the people and that being a patron can really help your successes.