Cosimo de’ Medici, Slideshow Speaking Notes

Slide #

Notes

1 Introductory Slide

References For This Slide:

Pontormo, J. (Painter). (1518). Posthumous Portrait of Cosimo Vecchio [Painting]. Retrieved March 12, 2013 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27652262Coat of Arms of the Medici Family. [Image] (2012). Retrieved April 4, 2013 from http://www.museothyssen.org/en/thyssen/contenidos_articulo/10

2 Forging AlliancesSubject: Marriages with outcast nobility & business development with new moneyPurpose: Demonstrate the creation of a power block that would not have occurred without the presence of Cosimo de’ MediciAdditional Required Materials: Whiteboard, Erasable MarkersSpecial Directions: On Whiteboard, draw 4-quadrants & write “Medici” in 1 quadrant. Use the diagram to demonstrate the connection of marriage & business alliances.

Key Points:

If you’re going to take over, you need some good, loyal friends to back you up, and it works even better if they depend on you. Cosimo built these relationships through two distinct methods while maintaining keeping his “friends” from splitting their loyalty by forming friendships with each other.

The first method involves marriage:• Marry outside your district

• Those close to home want to take your power, those beyond need to continue the family line without being threatened by yours

• As your power grows in your district, the marriage link increases their power in theirs

• This is a new idea, not being used by others• Marry “old money” and formerly powerful but now “outcast” families

• Families are outcasts because of their involvement in failed coups• Do not marry “new money”

• This would equate them to you• Will hurt your validity in they eye of “old money”• Weakens your position

• Continues Legitimacy• Only the “old money” can legitimately rule• High & long-running ties are seen as support for position

The second tactic is business:• Conduct business locally

• Regular contact with “new money” in local area creates dependency & fosters

friendship• Being a “good business partner” makes you a good member of the community• Creates a local, concentrated power base

• Support some interests of “new money”• Or at least, don’t attempt to destroy them• By listening & blocking movements to destroy, this made “new money” think of

the Medici as their defenders against the local oligarchy• A “defender of the people” commands powerful respect and support from “the

people”

Since outcast families in other districts have no interest in the local “new money” & vice versa, this creates a single link between powerful & distinct groups. New money is all local, old money is in other districts & thus no threat directly, old money is also not inter-wed between districts (and therefore loyalty is not split). As a result of this powerful combination of marriage and business, Cosimo became a powerful force.

In contrast, his foes were the local oligarchy, whose loyalty was split amongst various families and had no meaningful ties to local “new money.” Fearing Cosimo’s growing power, they attempted to assemble an army. As one family would join the assembly, another would leave. Cosimo was able to call up his support, from both local “new men” and the slightly more distant “outcast oligarchy,” and the assembly was so large that the local families were cowed and surrendered without a battle. The power of the Medici block was such that they & their marriages became the ruling block in all districts as a result of this “confrontation”. Their successful ascension led to hundreds of years of relative stability in Florence.

Without Cosimo:• Marriage to other “outcast” families would be rare, decreasing the size & power of

those families• Support, or the blocking of destruction of “new money” would have been non-existent,

resulting in the destruction of many valuable merchants• No single solid base would have formed in Florence, resulting in many more years of

instability & infighting

References For This Slide:

“Marriage” [Image]. (2012). Deluxe Italian Wedding. Retrieved March 28, 2013 from http://deluxeitalianwedding.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/marriage.jpg

Padgett, J., & Ansell, C. (1993). Robust Action and the Rise of the Medici, 1400 - 1434. American Journal of Sociology, 98(6), 1259-1319.

Sereno, R. (1953). The Paternostri of Cosimo De' Medici. Italica, 30(3), 168-169.

“Wine Merchants” [Image]. (n.d.) Medievalist.net. Retrieved March 28, 2013 from http://www.medievalists.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/wine_merchants.gif

3 Rise to Leading BankSubject: Life building him up to leading bank after father

Purpose: Explain why and how he had his money and power over commerce

Key Points:

Giovanni de Medici, Cosimo`s father was born into a family with almost nothing and created the Medici bank. Through pure perseverance and Business savvy he set the foundation for Cosimo`s massive gains in capital and power by handing the bank, which gave Cosimo access to huge sums of money and bargaining power.

- Giovanni taught Cosimo many principles, which helped farther his influence In his later life during times of hardship.Cosimo purposely, like his father, went after high profile people who were experiencing periods of over expenditure financially and lent them coinage, or even sometimes bought items of worth from them. This gave him the ability to buy rare, unique items, ask favours, and increase his bank funds through patronage and interest.

References For This Slide:Biography, E. o. (2013). Cosimo de' Medici. Retrieved March 14, 2013, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404704366.htmlBritannica, E. (2013). Cosimo de' Medici (ruler of Florence [1389-1464]). Retrieved March 14, 2013, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/372301/Cosimo-de-MediciCosimo de' Medici (1389-1464), Pater Patri [Coin]. (1465-1469). Retrieved March 19, 2013 from http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth213/medici_patronage.htmlGilbert, K. A. (2005). Medici Power and Patronage under Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent. Retrieved March 14, 2013, from Eastern Michigan University: http://commons.emich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1102&context=honors

4 Exile From FlorenceSubject: Explaining why and how the Albetzi had him exiled & his returnPurpose: Show the power he truly had over the city and how powerful his bank wasKey Points:The Albizzi and Strozzi family had Cosimo thrown into jail, to be tried and executed for the failure to capture Lucca by the Florentine people. They did this because they feared the power and support Cosimo had gained amongst the common people.

-Cosimo paid off the judge to reduce his sentence to exile.When Cosimo was exiled he took his bank and the businesses who relied on it with him, leaving Florence with a major lack of funds to retire to Venice. A year later, when a new government came to power in Florence they begged for Cosimo to return with his bank, which he obliged. The reason he didn’t just come back and make himself seem the savior of Florence is because of advice that his father gave him, to wait for a summons as opposed to imposing.

References For This Slide:Meyers, K. (Photographer). (2012). Florence, Italy [Photograph]. Retrieved on March 28, 2013 from http://bonesdontlie.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/florence-italy.jpg

5 Influence on Causing Florentine RenaissanceSubject: Explain how he funded public projects, libraries and tradePurpose: Show his direct positive affect on city after exile and what it would be like without him

Key Points:Many of the beautiful tourist attractions of Florence were bankrolled and bought by Cosimo. His own palace was designed by Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, and He had Churches restored in Florence by Fillipo Brunelleschi, as well he had many smaller projects around the city done to improve the atmosphere of the city.

Cosimo had many items imported from asia for they were more useful then the product-equivalent in Europe as well there was much profit to be had in exotic goods not only for himself but for Florence due to the need for sustenance by the merchants and wealthy visiting to buy his wares.Cosimo formed a public library of ancient Roman and Greek works in the Monastery of S. Marco and the Abby of Fiesole with works he had copied or bought from all over the world and had obtained from Niccolò Niccoli for helping him out of debt.

References For This Slide:Stadler, O. (Photographer). (2009 – 2013). Florenz Palazzo Medici-Riccardi [Photograph]. Retrieved March 28, 2013 from http://inzumi.com/en/travel/point-of-interest/d_id/Florence/c_id/Sightseeing/p_id/Palazzo-Medici-Riccardi

6 ArchitectureSubject: Renaissance architecture in FlorencePurpose: To show how Cosimo’s patronage developed Florence’s architecture in the Renaissance and how it still remains today

Key Points:-Cosimo is probably most famous for funding –’Duomo’ in Florence Italy. This Dome stands 376 feet tall. And was rebuilt with Cosimos support startingin 1420 and finishing in 1436. This building was the talk in Florence as it was the first dome in HISTORY to be built without a temporary support structure.The Duomo can be seen almost everywhere in Florence and was a reminder to the people of the Medicis power and affluence. It take 436 steps to get tothe very top of the Dome to see the Beautiful cityscape of Florence. Not as much fun as it looks..ive done it… twiceBut definitely worth it

- Cosimo spent years and lots of coin to fun the beautifying of his city including many sculptures that decorated walls, churches and piazzas. The citizens

viewed the statues as important public art and were symbolic to many of the power the Medicis had.

- The city was filled with history and power …even an incredibly famous piece… Michelangelo’s sculpture of King David once stood out doors and was said to stand guard over the Vecchio bridge.

Cosimo had a great interest in architecture as well as the arts.

References for this slide:II Duomo Florence Italy. (2008, June 28). Retrieved April 10, 2013, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Il_Duomo_Florence_Italy.JPG

Palazzo Pitti (ND) Retrieved from http://www.toscanaviva.com/Firenze/pitti_palace.htmMichelangelo (2011) King David

7 Cosimo’s RenaissanceSubject: Cosimo’s Patronage and recruiting of talented artistsPurpose: To highlight the importance of Cosimo in the development of famous words

Key Points:Art was a big part of Cosimos patronage. His support led to physical manifestations of the power and control he had over the city of Florence. Cosimo wasable to become a patron because of the great wealth that he had available to him from the Medici bank spending approximately 150 000 gold florins on thearts. As a patron, Cosimo supported artists and helped art to flourish during the Florentine RenaissanceExamples of such works would have included Donatello’s bronze statue of David in 1430Cosimos patronage also showed that he was a charitable leader who was trying to make his city more beautiful like a good leader should. Cosimo wasbringing in the Renaissance (the ‘re-birth’) by commissioning artists to fill Florence’s walls. Not only did Cosimo’s role as a patron let him increase the control and influence he held both inside and outside of Florence, but it also influencedmembers of his family who followed in his footsteps.Florence flourished in the Renaissance thanks to Cosimos and his wealth from the Medici Bank. He brought Florence to the center of the Italian Renaissance through his patronage.WITHOUT COSIMO - The Renaissance would not have grown so prominent in Florence and it would have failed to become the cultural center of Europe.

References For This Slide:Donatello (144) David [Sculpture]. Retrieved from http://blogs.artinfo.com/secrethistoryofart/2011/02/15/inside-the-masterpiece-verrocchios-david

8 ReligionSubject: Cosimo’s influence on religionPurpose: Highlight how Cosimo was a leader through religious acts or manifestations and what it would be like without him.

Key Points:- Rebuilding and redecorating of churches- Pleasing the Florentines- Manifestations represented all over Florence- Importance of charity- Without Cosimo

References For This Slide:Angelico, F. (Painter). (1395). Altarpiece of San Marco [Painting]. Retrieved March 19, 2013 from http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy.library.carleton.ca/journals/common_knowledge/v009/9.2kent.html

Gilbert, K. A. (2005). Medici Power and Patronage under Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent. Retrieved March 29, 2013, from Eastern Michigan University: http://commons.emich.edu/honors/103/

Howard, P. (2008). Preaching Magnificence in Renaissance Florence. Retrieved March 29, 2013, from Project Muse: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/ren/summary/v061/61.2.howard.html

Kent, D. V. (2003). Preaching Magnificence in Renaissance Florence in Historiography. Common Knowledge, 9(2), 254-272.

9 Consider Medici Next Time You… (requires no report pages)Subject: Summarize pointsPurpose: Review the Presentation in brief

Key Points:Network – Becoming the central spoke of your network provides you with a valuable positionBank – without Cosimo’s international banking and business loans to merchants, the way we bank would have been dramatically alteredEnter a Building – Many design styles and forms of architecture would never have existed without the urging of the MediciExamine Artwork – Cosimo funding tonnes of artwork, including many of Michaelangelo’s most famous worksSee a Church – Without Cosimo’s push to build, repair and redecorate churches in Florence, the trend may have died and we may never have been blessed with the beauty they can now provide.

10 – 15

Reference Slides