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The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance
A dazzling history of the modest family which rose to become one of the most powerful in Europe, The Medici is a remarkably modern story of power, money and ambition. Against the background of an age which saw the rebirth of ancient and classical learning - of humanism which penetrated and explored the arts and sciences and the 'dark' knowledge of alchemy, astrology, and numerology - Paul Strathern explores the intensely dramatic rise and fall of the Medici family in Florence, as well as the Italian Renaissance which they did so much to sponsor and encourage. Interwoven into the narrative are the lives of many of the great Renaissance artists with whom the Medici had dealings, including Leonardo, Michelangelo and Donatello, as well as scientists like Galileo and Pico della Mirandola, both of whom clashed with the religious authorities. In this enthralling study, Paul Strathern also follows the fortunes of those members of the Medici family who achieved success away from Florence, including the two Medici popes and Catherine de' Médicis who became Queen of France and played a major role in that country through three turbulent reigns. Vivid and accessible, the book ends with the gloriously decadent decline of the Medici family in Florence as they strove to be recognised as European Princes.
431 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2003
About the author
Paul Strathern
140 books486 followersPaul Strathern (born 1940) is a English writer and academic. He was born in London, and studied at Trinity College, Dublin, after which he served in the Merchant Navy over a period of two years. He then lived on a Greek island. In 1966 he travelled overland to India and the Himalayas. His novel A Season in Abyssinia won a Somerset Maugham Award in 1972.
Besides five novels, he has also written numerous books on science, philosophy, history, literature, medicine and economics.
Besides five novels, he has also written numerous books on science, philosophy, history, literature, medicine and economics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews
September 24, 2021
This particular book was written at the same time or to accompany a short television series, The Rise and Fall of the De Medici family which tells the story of Florence and one famous banking family. Each night this week, I read sections of the book and then watched the corresponding television episodes and had a different but wonderful reading experience.
For those who haven’t watched the series or read the book, I would highly recommend that you combine. The book provides more detail than the series, particularly around the events in Europe and the rest of Italy, but the televised series brings the characters to life in a way a history book will not, and what a great cast they were.
Now for the book.
Godfathers of the Renaissance, chronicles the life, rise and fall of the De Medici dynasty from the 15 century through the renaissance and the prominence of Florence on the European and world stage. A family heritage deeply rooted in banking, Finance and Commerce, are elevated to become a prominent family in Italian politics. The story is interwoven with the greatest renaissance artists Leonardo DaVinci, Donatello, Michelangelo who were nurtured and championed by Lorenzo De Medici earning him the title of patron of arts and Godfather of the renaissance.
Lorenzo wins the battle of dynasties and survives the Pazzi conspiracy led by Jacopo de'Pazzi (played brilliantly by Sean Bean in the television series) largely because of the connection and relationship he has with the people of Florence. He is noted for his kindness, fair-mindedness, and highly regarded principles. Nevertheless Lorenzo's punishment of the Pazzi family and its supporters (including an archbishop) for having killed his brother and for the attempted murder on his life, earned him the wrath of the Holy See and so Florence was put under interdict, but with little effect.
What evolves is a man shaped by others and the events around him and in a bid to remain the leading force in Florence, he shows himself to be corrupt and ruthless to gain and retain political power and dominance. There is also a wonderful power struggle between the Medici dynasty and the papal see, for even in those times, the clergy preached against the creation of art as a sin against God. At the time of his death, we see the man in all his splendour, and taking back the order to kill an arch-rival that could have secured his dynasty. Instead, Florence descended into chaos for 6 years, but the dynasty lasted for centuries, creating two De Medici Popes and Catherine de Medici from France.
This book is an epic historical drama and a political thriller but a history book – not in the genre of historical fiction. However, combining the book with the television series felt like creating a different brand of historical fiction for the book was real and the television series had a touch of Hollywood. I was touched, impressed, thrilled and simply loved this story and experience.
For those who haven’t watched the series or read the book, I would highly recommend that you combine. The book provides more detail than the series, particularly around the events in Europe and the rest of Italy, but the televised series brings the characters to life in a way a history book will not, and what a great cast they were.
Now for the book.
Godfathers of the Renaissance, chronicles the life, rise and fall of the De Medici dynasty from the 15 century through the renaissance and the prominence of Florence on the European and world stage. A family heritage deeply rooted in banking, Finance and Commerce, are elevated to become a prominent family in Italian politics. The story is interwoven with the greatest renaissance artists Leonardo DaVinci, Donatello, Michelangelo who were nurtured and championed by Lorenzo De Medici earning him the title of patron of arts and Godfather of the renaissance.
Lorenzo wins the battle of dynasties and survives the Pazzi conspiracy led by Jacopo de'Pazzi (played brilliantly by Sean Bean in the television series) largely because of the connection and relationship he has with the people of Florence. He is noted for his kindness, fair-mindedness, and highly regarded principles. Nevertheless Lorenzo's punishment of the Pazzi family and its supporters (including an archbishop) for having killed his brother and for the attempted murder on his life, earned him the wrath of the Holy See and so Florence was put under interdict, but with little effect.
What evolves is a man shaped by others and the events around him and in a bid to remain the leading force in Florence, he shows himself to be corrupt and ruthless to gain and retain political power and dominance. There is also a wonderful power struggle between the Medici dynasty and the papal see, for even in those times, the clergy preached against the creation of art as a sin against God. At the time of his death, we see the man in all his splendour, and taking back the order to kill an arch-rival that could have secured his dynasty. Instead, Florence descended into chaos for 6 years, but the dynasty lasted for centuries, creating two De Medici Popes and Catherine de Medici from France.
This book is an epic historical drama and a political thriller but a history book – not in the genre of historical fiction. However, combining the book with the television series felt like creating a different brand of historical fiction for the book was real and the television series had a touch of Hollywood. I was touched, impressed, thrilled and simply loved this story and experience.
March 5, 2023
I've already read Paul Strathern's Death in Florence: The Medici, Savonarola, and the Battle for the Soul of a Renaissance City a while ago, and thought it was excellent.
"The Medici: Power, Money, and Ambition in the Italian Renaissance" tells the story of Medici, from the family's early days to the last Medici ruler of Florence. Inevitably, Medici's story is also the story of Florence, Renaissance and lots of fascinating characters with whom Medici interacted, from Donatello, Brunelleschi, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo to Benvenuto Cellini, Giorgio Vasari and Galileo Galilei, to name just a few.
Looking at other reviews, I see some readers have found this book misogynistic and homophobic, but to me it seemed that the author, born in 1940, stayed very much a man of his time, and probably doesn't even realize that his wording is no longer acceptable (for example, referring to a heterosexual Medici as "normal" when comparing him to a group of his homosexual relatives and friends).
Anyway, I still found the book informative and engaging, and liked its panoramic picture of the history of Medici and Florence through the centuries.
"The Medici: Power, Money, and Ambition in the Italian Renaissance" tells the story of Medici, from the family's early days to the last Medici ruler of Florence. Inevitably, Medici's story is also the story of Florence, Renaissance and lots of fascinating characters with whom Medici interacted, from Donatello, Brunelleschi, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo to Benvenuto Cellini, Giorgio Vasari and Galileo Galilei, to name just a few.
Looking at other reviews, I see some readers have found this book misogynistic and homophobic, but to me it seemed that the author, born in 1940, stayed very much a man of his time, and probably doesn't even realize that his wording is no longer acceptable (for example, referring to a heterosexual Medici as "normal" when comparing him to a group of his homosexual relatives and friends).
Anyway, I still found the book informative and engaging, and liked its panoramic picture of the history of Medici and Florence through the centuries.
January 20, 2015
I bought this book following a lovely trip to Florence. I devoured it very quickly, eager to learn more about the history of the city I had enjoyed visiting, and I have to say it is one of the most enjoyable "popular history" books I have read. Paul Strathern does a commendable job of making the history very accessible, not only charting the rise and fall of this powerful clan, but also incorporating plenty of related intellectual, artistic and literary history along the way. The result is an impeccable chronicle that immerses the reader in Renaissance Italy, complete with all the plots, the power and the politics of the day. Despite being a slender book, no topic feels skimmed, which is to the credit of the author. I particularly enjoyed reading about the various Medici Popes and the way in which religion played its part in the history of the family and of Italy itself. If you want to know more about the Medici and their place in the wider Renaissance which they helped to shape, this book is a great place to start.
June 16, 2016
I’m grateful to author, Paul Strathern, for writing this book. The stripped down genealogical chart at the start is an example of how the book will cover centuries when each decade had outstanding people and events and social, artistic and political developments. For me, this is the perfect mix of research, interpretation (background, significance and what to leave in/take out) and character development for putting together the story of this family and its influence on western civilization.
After a Prologue on events of April 1478, the book begins with Giovanni di Bicci de Medici (1389-1464), who founded what was to become the most famous bank of Italy, and his son Cosimo who expanded the bank’s geographical footprint and laid the political foundation for growing the family’s influence. As Cosimo was groomed for leadership, he groomed his sons. Strathern poses that because the Medici’s were not nobles and Florence was a republic the family built its political position by bonding with the people through buildings, public art, hosting dignitaries with large community events and presenting a modest demeanor.
Strathern shows how Lorenzo (the Magnificent), in carrying on his grandfather Cosimo’s program of public works and art, and modest attire, became a patron to the era’s most gifted artists and fostered what is now known as the Renaissance. Strathern examines the term itself: how it was used in this era, how “re-birth” harkened back to pre-Christian humanism during ancient republican times and how this re-birth needed a city, like Florence, free of authoritarian rule, to grow.
While the Medici influence in painting, sculpture and architecture is widely known, the book explores Medici influence on music, poetry, philosophy and science particularly through patronship of Gallileo.
Florentines who were jealous of Medici power and influence, expressed it in the banishing family members, and most dramatically in the assassination and assassination attempt on, respectively, Guiliano and Lorenzo. Despite the backlash, the family was able to place its members in the clergy (Popes Leo X and Clement VII) and when Florence became a more limited republic as its Dukes, and finally as “Royal Highness”.
The last Medici’s in power would be quite embarrassing to Giovanni di Bicci, as would the state of the Florence where the population was greatly diminished and nude art was either moved or covered. Cosimo III who obtained royal status for the family’s position smothered the talents of his most able son (Fernando, the last Medici connoisseur and patron of the arts) and had difficulty finding spouses for his children. If the story of his 2nd son, Gian Gastone’s, courtship and marriage were it not so tragic would be a great comedy. In his eventual reign, the obese Gian Gastone attempted to bring back the glory of Florence, but trends overcame him and the city was absorbed by Austria. In Anna Marie Louisa’s brief regency following her brother’s (Gian Gastone's) death in 1737 and in the absence of their Austrian overlords, she made a significant gesture of willing the Medici treasures to never leave Florence.
There are brief narratives on the Medici’s who married into royalty particularly Caterina and Marie who became queens of France. Machivelli is noted, but having worked for enemies of the Medici, he does not feature much in the narrative.
I’ve learned about this period piecemeal, through bios, histories of events and narratives of the arts. While purists might object to the author's interpretations, academics might object to the character development and some general readers will have problems with the changing type sizes of the book, this was just right for me. Strathern has digested 250+ years of complex history and made it readable, and best of all gave me a good foundation for further exploration of this period.
November 6, 2018
This is well researched and extremely readable. My only complaint is that the author is unable to keep his personal bias out of this research based body of work. The language used is jarring and disrespectful.
That said the history gives a really good overview of the politics, political characters/families and so many politics with so many varying European powers. Shew. You add in the 2 Popes and 2 Queens of France complex and yet smoothly handled.
Still the homophobia and sexism prevent a truly high score. This is worth reading for a general overview of the family, politics and such of the eras involved.
That said the history gives a really good overview of the politics, political characters/families and so many politics with so many varying European powers. Shew. You add in the 2 Popes and 2 Queens of France complex and yet smoothly handled.
Still the homophobia and sexism prevent a truly high score. This is worth reading for a general overview of the family, politics and such of the eras involved.
March 10, 2015
This book provides some basic information about the history of the Medicis. However, the narrative seems to be formed around the author's personal views on various figures, rather than any historical data or approach, which makes for a distracting as well as an aggravating read. Leo X is described primarily through his chubbiness - every reference to this person contains a mention of his size. There are also several problematic statements about same-sex relations; Strathern tries to explain, or explain away, the homosexuality of Leonardo da Vinci as occasioned by too much maternal love during his youth, and among the Medici clique of Leonardo, Poliziano, and Michaelangelo, Pico della Mirandola is described as pleasantly 'normal'. I would not recommend this book, or this author - information about the Medicis is available elsewhere.
April 15, 2022
"Медичите – кръстниците на Ренесанса" от Пол Стратърн е изключително мащабен труд, който обхваща живота на рода Медичи от по-незначителните първи представители през възхода започнат от Джовани и завършен от Лоренцо Великолепни, до последните видни представители, които вече са велики херцози на Тоскана.
Джовани е този, който дава началото на възхода на банката, натрупването на капитал и опитите за придобиване на политическа власт, със своите решения се стреми да утвърди фамилията като папски банкери и да завещае на сина си Козимо стабилно положение, подпечатано от пари и власт. Горе долу по това време започва покровителството им на изкуствата и зараждането на новия хуманизъм, около Медичите се оформя прогресивен кръг от хора на изкуството и идеите.
По време на възхода на Медичите Флоренция е република, управлявана от гонфалониер и съвет, но влиянието на Козимо става все по-голямо и това плаши аристократичните родове. Оттук нататък историята на града е изпъстрена от сблъсъци между консервативната аристокрация и издигащия се банкерски род.
Първият интересен творец, който покровителстват е Донатело, от скромно семейство, бронзовата му статуя на Давид е красива, въплъщение на новите идеали за физическа красота, не само за духовност. Няма как да не спомена и вратите на Гиберти срещу катедралата, проект за който е предпочетен пред своенравния Брунелески, след чумата, власт��те решават да поставят нови врати на баптистерия и комисията избира Лоренцо Гиберти, на когото са нужни двадесет години да излее вратите с поредица от библейски сцени, променяйки технологията, изкуството и науката се започват да се допълват. По-късно Брунелески, използвайки за вдъхновение купола на Пантеона в Рим, ще проектира купол за внушителната Санта Мариа дел Фиоре.
Покровителството на Медичите по времето на Лоренцо Великолепни (внук на Козимо) включва трима от най-внушителните художници, не само за времето си и по принцип - Ботичели, Микеланджело и Леонардо. И тримата са повлияни от промените в изкуството преди тях, но със своя оригинален поглед остават в историята. Като за мен Микеландело винаги ще е преди всичко скулптор. В кръга влизат редица значими поети и философия, а библиотечната колекция, която събират е забележителна за времето си.
Цената на успеха е висока, интриги, подкупи и манипулации помагат на рода да се задържи на върха с всякакви средства, но освен това те са силни личности, с много качества и управляват събитията, с натрупаните пари и меценатство, те правят Флоренция богат и бляскав център на културата. В момента, в който се появяват по-слаби и нерешителни представители те биват умело отстранени, в противовес на разцъфващата наука, изкуство, литература и философия се прокрадва религиозен фанатизъм и 15 години Флоренция под управлението на Савонарола е скована от религиозен аскетизъм, отричане на материално, красивото, редица антики и произведения на изкуството са изгорени.
Възходът на Медичите в изграждането на Ренесанса е минало и те поемат в други посоки, влиятелните църковни постове водят до двамата противоречиви папи Лъв Х и Климент VII, а по-късно амбициите им достигат върха си с двете френски кралици Катерина Медичи и Мария Медичи. Стратърн описва и двете доста неутрално, без да демонизира Катерина, която в много романи особено в любимата ми "Кралица Марго" от детските ми години е доста негативен образ, но тук тя е жена, с трима болнави и слаби сина, в несигурни времена на ръба на религиозна и гражданска война, която прави всичко възможно да съхрани единна държавата, при липсата на силен наследник. Малко известен факт е, че нейните готвачи променят основите на френската кухня.
След трансформацията на Флоренция във велико херцогство, с първи херцог Козимо I се случват малко интересни и заслужаващи споменаване факти, като сред тях е присъствието на Галилео Галилей, забележителен математик и астроном, музеят му във Флоренция е събрал невероятна колекция от научни открития променили света.
Италия е разделена на самостоятелни градове-държави, които почти непрекъснато са във война, Флоренция попада по средата между Неапол и папата; и между Венеция и Милано. А отвън Испания, Франция и Свещената римска империя са застрашителен фактор и преследват свои интереси.
Романът на Стратърн е изцяло документален, с много богата библиография, но стилът е жив и увлекателен, той се опитва да изгради детайлна представа за всяка личност, с качествата и недостатъците, търси обяснения за взетите съдбоносни решения и последиците, защото често изборите или отлагането им поради нерешителност, допринасят както за възходите, така и за разгромите. Изданието е много красиво, има цветни снимки и черно-бели изображения, които помагат на читателя да си представи или да изживее отново красотата на изкуството и архитектурата.
Джовани е този, който дава началото на възхода на банката, натрупването на капитал и опитите за придобиване на политическа власт, със своите решения се стреми да утвърди фамилията като папски банкери и да завещае на сина си Козимо стабилно положение, подпечатано от пари и власт. Горе долу по това време започва покровителството им на изкуствата и зараждането на новия хуманизъм, около Медичите се оформя прогресивен кръг от хора на изкуството и идеите.
По време на възхода на Медичите Флоренция е република, управлявана от гонфалониер и съвет, но влиянието на Козимо става все по-голямо и това плаши аристократичните родове. Оттук нататък историята на града е изпъстрена от сблъсъци между консервативната аристокрация и издигащия се банкерски род.
Първият интересен творец, който покровителстват е Донатело, от скромно семейство, бронзовата му статуя на Давид е красива, въплъщение на новите идеали за физическа красота, не само за духовност. Няма как да не спомена и вратите на Гиберти срещу катедралата, проект за който е предпочетен пред своенравния Брунелески, след чумата, власт��те решават да поставят нови врати на баптистерия и комисията избира Лоренцо Гиберти, на когото са нужни двадесет години да излее вратите с поредица от библейски сцени, променяйки технологията, изкуството и науката се започват да се допълват. По-късно Брунелески, използвайки за вдъхновение купола на Пантеона в Рим, ще проектира купол за внушителната Санта Мариа дел Фиоре.
Покровителството на Медичите по времето на Лоренцо Великолепни (внук на Козимо) включва трима от най-внушителните художници, не само за времето си и по принцип - Ботичели, Микеланджело и Леонардо. И тримата са повлияни от промените в изкуството преди тях, но със своя оригинален поглед остават в историята. Като за мен Микеландело винаги ще е преди всичко скулптор. В кръга влизат редица значими поети и философия, а библиотечната колекция, която събират е забележителна за времето си.
Цената на успеха е висока, интриги, подкупи и манипулации помагат на рода да се задържи на върха с всякакви средства, но освен това те са силни личности, с много качества и управляват събитията, с натрупаните пари и меценатство, те правят Флоренция богат и бляскав център на културата. В момента, в който се появяват по-слаби и нерешителни представители те биват умело отстранени, в противовес на разцъфващата наука, изкуство, литература и философия се прокрадва религиозен фанатизъм и 15 години Флоренция под управлението на Савонарола е скована от религиозен аскетизъм, отричане на материално, красивото, редица антики и произведения на изкуството са изгорени.
Възходът на Медичите в изграждането на Ренесанса е минало и те поемат в други посоки, влиятелните църковни постове водят до двамата противоречиви папи Лъв Х и Климент VII, а по-късно амбициите им достигат върха си с двете френски кралици Катерина Медичи и Мария Медичи. Стратърн описва и двете доста неутрално, без да демонизира Катерина, която в много романи особено в любимата ми "Кралица Марго" от детските ми години е доста негативен образ, но тук тя е жена, с трима болнави и слаби сина, в несигурни времена на ръба на религиозна и гражданска война, която прави всичко възможно да съхрани единна държавата, при липсата на силен наследник. Малко известен факт е, че нейните готвачи променят основите на френската кухня.
След трансформацията на Флоренция във велико херцогство, с първи херцог Козимо I се случват малко интересни и заслужаващи споменаване факти, като сред тях е присъствието на Галилео Галилей, забележителен математик и астроном, музеят му във Флоренция е събрал невероятна колекция от научни открития променили света.
Италия е разделена на самостоятелни градове-държави, които почти непрекъснато са във война, Флоренция попада по средата между Неапол и папата; и между Венеция и Милано. А отвън Испания, Франция и Свещената римска империя са застрашителен фактор и преследват свои интереси.
Романът на Стратърн е изцяло документален, с много богата библиография, но стилът е жив и увлекателен, той се опитва да изгради детайлна представа за всяка личност, с качествата и недостатъците, търси обяснения за взетите съдбоносни решения и последиците, защото често изборите или отлагането им поради нерешителност, допринасят както за възходите, така и за разгромите. Изданието е много красиво, има цветни снимки и черно-бели изображения, които помагат на читателя да си представи или да изживее отново красотата на изкуството и архитектурата.
November 16, 2020
I am conflicted. I love the Medici, history of the renaissance, and schemes involving the Catholic Church, and this book serves all those. Strathern writes well, in an interesting fashion, presenting the family’s rise to glory and the following fall from it in a highly entertaining way, and I did enjoy learning so much.
But. There’s no avoiding the homophobia so evident throughout the book. It’s somewhat interesting how Strathern manages to do what more historians should, aka recognise that gay people have existed always and some relationships truly are more than “a close friendship” - but he does it in such a cringey uncomfortable way. Furthermore, it seems like he blamed all the faults of people on their sexuality?? Not cool. I was able to ignore it at first but the more the book progresses the more it started to bother me.
Also what’s his deal with seeing women only as prostitutes or mothers - apart from the two Medici queens which I guess he had to include? Also what’s his deal with focusing so much on the weight of the Medici rulers?? And calling Bacchus a Greek god?!?!
But nevertheless it was an enjoyable book, when closing one eye and focusing on the scheming.
But. There’s no avoiding the homophobia so evident throughout the book. It’s somewhat interesting how Strathern manages to do what more historians should, aka recognise that gay people have existed always and some relationships truly are more than “a close friendship” - but he does it in such a cringey uncomfortable way. Furthermore, it seems like he blamed all the faults of people on their sexuality?? Not cool. I was able to ignore it at first but the more the book progresses the more it started to bother me.
Also what’s his deal with seeing women only as prostitutes or mothers - apart from the two Medici queens which I guess he had to include? Also what’s his deal with focusing so much on the weight of the Medici rulers?? And calling Bacchus a Greek god?!?!
But nevertheless it was an enjoyable book, when closing one eye and focusing on the scheming.
August 27, 2016
In reading books of European history one the most maddening difficulties is trying to make sense of the convoluted family trees of those aristocrats that are always the key players in those histories. Of course history buffs all know that European history is all about family, who inherits and who doesn't; who has to be kept from inheriting; and who has to be killed to advance one's agenda. Well this book has for the first time in my experience laid out a family lineage that was clear, definitive, and easy to follow, that of the Medici of Florence. Now dealing with only one family would seem fairly simple but in the case of this well known family that really wouldn't be true as their Florentine history did spill into the royal houses of the major powers of Europe and the trail was still easily followed. So I am grateful to this author for such a clear understanding that he has given me. Further, while the book is a history of the Medici it is by no means limited to this family. To talk of the Medici and not deal with the Renaissance would be unthinkable and this book does a fair job of discussing the Renaissance and its influence on the arts and sciences of the time. It also discusses many of the most notable personalities the Italian Renaissance and Italian history of this era. In short it is an excellent history of Florence, the Medici, and Italy from just before the Renaissance into the mid 18th century when the Medici line finally dies out.
May 28, 2023
One grandiose research about Medici dynasty from their sunrise to their end.
May 28, 2016
Good overview of the powerful family that created / ruled Florence, then Rome, etc. It's somewhere between "scholarly" and "popular". There are some weird (or perhaps old) tangents about homosexuality, and some wonderful tangents about food and art.
Clarification: The author says things like "Because he had a homosexual relationship, he was ...", as shorthand for "he bucked convention" or "he went against normal practices" or whatever. What it means to have a homosexual relationship at various points in time (class, religion, deviance, etc.) even within the timeframe of this book is a pretty big topic to be painted with such a broad brush. Since Strathern brings it up, I'd like to know if he thinks The Renaissance allowed it because it is attached to the newly allowed/expected artistic temperament, or if being a Medici meant one had the political freedom to break social norms. Or....? Anyone else have an idea?
Clarification: The author says things like "Because he had a homosexual relationship, he was ...", as shorthand for "he bucked convention" or "he went against normal practices" or whatever. What it means to have a homosexual relationship at various points in time (class, religion, deviance, etc.) even within the timeframe of this book is a pretty big topic to be painted with such a broad brush. Since Strathern brings it up, I'd like to know if he thinks The Renaissance allowed it because it is attached to the newly allowed/expected artistic temperament, or if being a Medici meant one had the political freedom to break social norms. Or....? Anyone else have an idea?
June 28, 2022
The Medicis are fascinating, both as rulers and patrons of the most recognized names in art history: Donatello, Boticelli, Michealangelo, Leonardo, Rafael… seriously, I am drooling. As a family, they went from shrewd bankers through defacto rulers of Florence to two Popes, three French Queens to recognized Dukes of Florence. Since this is a history of rise and fall, the good stuff happens in the first half of the book, mostly during the reign of Cosimo I and Lorenzo The Magnificent. Unfortunately we witness the sad decline of the house under the rule of religion-obsessed Cosimo II and his son, the last and most incompetent, lazy and debauched member of the Medici family.
It is a great ride and I enjoyed it for the most part, except for the author’s rather creepy preoccupation with the word “homosexual” and his eyebrow-raising lust for Donatello’s David, which is impressive, but he sounds like he has a serious crush on it. See it here: https://smarthistory.org/donatello-da...
It is a great ride and I enjoyed it for the most part, except for the author’s rather creepy preoccupation with the word “homosexual” and his eyebrow-raising lust for Donatello’s David, which is impressive, but he sounds like he has a serious crush on it. See it here: https://smarthistory.org/donatello-da...
May 23, 2024
the medici played crusader kings on easy
May 2, 2014
There have been a number of books on the Medici, unsurprising considering their lasting effect on the modern day worlds of finance and culture, but this is definitely one of the more accessible reads.
This is a particularly difficult story to tell as it spans several centuries, a huge range of characters from the Medici themselves to foreign royalty as well as all the great artists of the era and a fundamentalist preacher in Savonarola who would nearly bring them down.
What we have in this book is a spotlight shone on a family who either ruled or influenced events in Florence for nearly four centuries and all the events which, through their patronage, they helped shape and which in turn moulded each generation of the family as they took over.
It is a story of how a family who, if the Medici legend is to be believed, descended from a knight who fought for Charlemagne in the eight century and went on to become the most famous family in medieval European history. The fact is that there are no records of the Medici until the very earliest years of the thirteenth century when they are known to have settled in the San Lorenzo neighbourhood of Florence. At this point they were one of many money lenders who set their benches out in the piazza’s of the city.
The fact that they were to go from wool merchants to financiers and then finally to the rulers of a great city state is testament to the politics of the era and the fact that money brought influence and power to whoever had it. Whilst this might be a clich��, it was never truer than during this period of European history. Basically if you were a family of some note and you were not involved in the politics of wherever you lived, you could expect to be frozen out very quickly. For the Medici this meant that their were years when they would find themselves in the wilderness whilst another family would ascend to the Florentine crown before they were brought back either by their own machinations or by the mismanagement of the economy by whoever had usurped them.
Whilst the Medici are fêted for their patronage of the arts none of this would have been possible without them first having the money to spend on the projects for which Florence is famous. They achieved this wealth by means of money lending, first on a small scale and then by increasing the amount they leant and also by guaranteeing funds in various locations around Europe for travellers who would otherwise have to carry the money on them. They did this by establishing branches of the Medici bank in places like London, Paris and Rome as well as other cities. Along with double entry book keeping, the Medici are credited with inventing what we understand today to be the modern banking system.
The Renaissance is an era which is loosely defined as having taken place from the 14th to the 17th century and it is an era which Paul Strathern has made his own with his books on the events and characters of the age. His achievement here is that he has taken a subject which requires a heavy commitment from the reader if you are going to truly get to grips with it (the paperback version of the book comes in at 430 pages) and made it easy to follow. The only gripe would be that, should you walk away from it for a few days or more, you are in danger of losing the thread of what happened to who and when these events took place in the grand scheme of things. This however shouldn’t be viewed as a criticism of the book so much as an inevitable drawback of covering such a complicated topic.
This is a particularly difficult story to tell as it spans several centuries, a huge range of characters from the Medici themselves to foreign royalty as well as all the great artists of the era and a fundamentalist preacher in Savonarola who would nearly bring them down.
What we have in this book is a spotlight shone on a family who either ruled or influenced events in Florence for nearly four centuries and all the events which, through their patronage, they helped shape and which in turn moulded each generation of the family as they took over.
It is a story of how a family who, if the Medici legend is to be believed, descended from a knight who fought for Charlemagne in the eight century and went on to become the most famous family in medieval European history. The fact is that there are no records of the Medici until the very earliest years of the thirteenth century when they are known to have settled in the San Lorenzo neighbourhood of Florence. At this point they were one of many money lenders who set their benches out in the piazza’s of the city.
The fact that they were to go from wool merchants to financiers and then finally to the rulers of a great city state is testament to the politics of the era and the fact that money brought influence and power to whoever had it. Whilst this might be a clich��, it was never truer than during this period of European history. Basically if you were a family of some note and you were not involved in the politics of wherever you lived, you could expect to be frozen out very quickly. For the Medici this meant that their were years when they would find themselves in the wilderness whilst another family would ascend to the Florentine crown before they were brought back either by their own machinations or by the mismanagement of the economy by whoever had usurped them.
Whilst the Medici are fêted for their patronage of the arts none of this would have been possible without them first having the money to spend on the projects for which Florence is famous. They achieved this wealth by means of money lending, first on a small scale and then by increasing the amount they leant and also by guaranteeing funds in various locations around Europe for travellers who would otherwise have to carry the money on them. They did this by establishing branches of the Medici bank in places like London, Paris and Rome as well as other cities. Along with double entry book keeping, the Medici are credited with inventing what we understand today to be the modern banking system.
The Renaissance is an era which is loosely defined as having taken place from the 14th to the 17th century and it is an era which Paul Strathern has made his own with his books on the events and characters of the age. His achievement here is that he has taken a subject which requires a heavy commitment from the reader if you are going to truly get to grips with it (the paperback version of the book comes in at 430 pages) and made it easy to follow. The only gripe would be that, should you walk away from it for a few days or more, you are in danger of losing the thread of what happened to who and when these events took place in the grand scheme of things. This however shouldn’t be viewed as a criticism of the book so much as an inevitable drawback of covering such a complicated topic.
September 21, 2023
قراءة واحدة لا تكفي
June 3, 2016
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Italian Renaissance and the influence the Medici family had on it . It not only dwells into the inner workings of the family , it also paints a broad open view into an era in which knowledge was being regained and the changes that still affect us till now came up. It deals with greats such as Da Vinci, Donattelo , Raphael and Michelangelo .
April 28, 2017
Having recently visited Italy, this was a very good read. The Medicis and how they influenced the masters of the Renaissance made it interesting throughout and would be a good reference book, enjoy!
March 28, 2022
4.5*
A superb depiction of the rise and decline of the Medici, the godfathers of the Italian Renaissance.
A superb depiction of the rise and decline of the Medici, the godfathers of the Italian Renaissance.
March 25, 2024
This isn't about the Medici family exactly, so much as the whole political and social circles they were involved with. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though it wasn't what I expected, or wanted. But it didn't really hold my attention, and I was listening to it, so zoning out meant I would regularly realize I was an entire chapter or two into a discussion of a pope or an artist and I had no idea how this all related back to the Medicis. But there were some interesting tidbits, and I might still have given it three stars.
But there are so many problems with the way the author depicts people. People without forceful personalities are often presented as flawed. Overweight people are described in incredibly insulting ways (an endless variety of them) that make it clear this is a horrible character flaw. I'm not sure there's one woman presented in a positive light. Catherine de Medici did all right, but oh, she was fat, so, only so much you can do there. Several unattractive men are still appealing to as many women (and men) as they want; unattractive women are just scraping by in spite of it. One of these, Marie de Medici, was done great favors by an artist who had an "ability to depict large, fleshy women as objects of ethereal beauty", clearly an impressive feat. The author literally says that these are some of the artist's best works, "despite such weighty requirements". ????? Ick.
But there are so many problems with the way the author depicts people. People without forceful personalities are often presented as flawed. Overweight people are described in incredibly insulting ways (an endless variety of them) that make it clear this is a horrible character flaw. I'm not sure there's one woman presented in a positive light. Catherine de Medici did all right, but oh, she was fat, so, only so much you can do there. Several unattractive men are still appealing to as many women (and men) as they want; unattractive women are just scraping by in spite of it. One of these, Marie de Medici, was done great favors by an artist who had an "ability to depict large, fleshy women as objects of ethereal beauty", clearly an impressive feat. The author literally says that these are some of the artist's best works, "despite such weighty requirements". ????? Ick.
June 15, 2017
In depth book about the Medici's and their impact on the world. Author Paul Strathern demystifies each one of them, writing of each member of the illustrious family. Of Lorenzo her writes, "HIs sallow features were undeniably ugly, framed by lank centre-parted hair that fell to his shoulders; below his beetled brow his eyes were heavy-lidded, like his father's. He had an over-emphatic chin with a protruding lower lip, while his nose was broad and squashed, so much so that he literary had nor sense of smell-though this may have accounted for the precision with which he used his other senses, in aesthetic judgement and his poetry. HIs movements were clumsy, his figure tall and powerfully built, but ungainly; only his hands were long and delicate." In one paragraph, the author gives a an insightful description more powerful than a portrait by a master. This is an insiders look at what made the family great, it's kin groomed and prepared through generations of education and preparation to reach the highest offices of the different kingdoms in the known world changing history forever.
March 16, 2022
Interesting learning about the Medici but the author kept inserting these terrible descriptors and all sorts of homophobic, sexist, fatphobic, etc comments. Literally said Leonardo Da Vinci was gay because he was raised by his single strong willed mother. All his comments about the women in the Medici family were negative and called one of them a shrill nagging wife. He also described people’s bodies as bulbous monstrosities. Truly shocking for a so called historian. Stop with the value judgments.
August 4, 2021
До този момент не знаех нищо за Медичите, освен прословутото им име. За мен книгата беше добър източник на информация за рода на Медичите и беше хронологично подредена. Ясно е, че историята на рода, съществувал няколко столетия, не може да бъде подробно описана в една книга, но като за начало беше полезна и увлекателна.
October 14, 2021
This book would make a great introduction to the Medicis and the history of Florence. If you are already familiar with the family, I’d suggest works that take smaller bites out of the story and are more detailed. This didn’t really work for my current research, but I would highly recommend it to others.
This isn't much of a review, but I am up to my eyebrows in other things at them moment.
This isn't much of a review, but I am up to my eyebrows in other things at them moment.
April 8, 2020
Strathern does an excellent job of writing a popular history in a way that is simultaneously engaging and informative. I feel like I have a much better understand of the Medici than I did previously. It is an excellent popular history to introduce centuries of a fascinating family.
That being said there are a few aspects to his writing that take it down a few stars from where it could have been.
First, the time spent on the significant Medici women was next to nothing. I feel like I barely know anything about Catherine de' Medici, even though she was one of the most influential people in Europe during her lifetime. More time and description was devoted to non-Medici men, such as Machiavelli and Galileo, important as they were.
Second, Strathern has a clearly outmoded view of the Middle Ages. He constantly denigrates the entire period as a backwards era of ignorance and ruin. Historians now understand that to be an unfair and inaccurate criticism initiated by those in previous centuries who wanted to view themselves as more enlightened. To perpetuate this myth is unfortunate.
Third, anyone writing a popular history should know to keep themselves out of their work, but Strathern constantly injects his views on religion and politics. It's fine to hold and share one's opinions on these topics, but this is not the place.
I would still recommend this book for those who would like to learn a bit about the Medici, but also to keep the above in mind when reading it.
That being said there are a few aspects to his writing that take it down a few stars from where it could have been.
First, the time spent on the significant Medici women was next to nothing. I feel like I barely know anything about Catherine de' Medici, even though she was one of the most influential people in Europe during her lifetime. More time and description was devoted to non-Medici men, such as Machiavelli and Galileo, important as they were.
Second, Strathern has a clearly outmoded view of the Middle Ages. He constantly denigrates the entire period as a backwards era of ignorance and ruin. Historians now understand that to be an unfair and inaccurate criticism initiated by those in previous centuries who wanted to view themselves as more enlightened. To perpetuate this myth is unfortunate.
Third, anyone writing a popular history should know to keep themselves out of their work, but Strathern constantly injects his views on religion and politics. It's fine to hold and share one's opinions on these topics, but this is not the place.
I would still recommend this book for those who would like to learn a bit about the Medici, but also to keep the above in mind when reading it.
August 27, 2019
Paul Strathern does a wonderful job of telling the story of this fascinating Italian family. From the first to the very last person in the Medici bloodline, Strathern describes their lives, dealings and characters, always placing them within a historical and cultural context. In reading this book, one does not only learn of this unique family. The history of Florence, and Italy more broadly, Renaissance art, architecture, philosophy, science, war and the geopolitical struggles of the time are all dealt with to provide the reader with a detailed and comprehensive picture of the times.
The author writes accessibly, sometimes interspersing his descriptions with interesting tangents and witty remarks. All of this makes it a relative joy to read. At times the book can be said to be slightly overwhelming; its enumerations of facts, names and dates will probably confuse some readers. Perhaps some will lose track and mix up some family members with others. Luckily, Strathern had provided us with a family tree and a list of notable heads of the family, at the beginning of the book.
Would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in European history, or that of Italy or Florence in particular, culture, the Renaissance or to people who already have an affinity for the Medici family.
The author writes accessibly, sometimes interspersing his descriptions with interesting tangents and witty remarks. All of this makes it a relative joy to read. At times the book can be said to be slightly overwhelming; its enumerations of facts, names and dates will probably confuse some readers. Perhaps some will lose track and mix up some family members with others. Luckily, Strathern had provided us with a family tree and a list of notable heads of the family, at the beginning of the book.
Would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in European history, or that of Italy or Florence in particular, culture, the Renaissance or to people who already have an affinity for the Medici family.
July 19, 2024
I have to confess that my knowledge of the Medici family was virtually nonexistent before picking up this book. In fact, my purchase was driven by curiosity about this enigmatic dynasty and the book’s irresistible bargain price at a second-hand bookstore. My expectations were, admittedly, quite low.
Yet, what an extraordinary discovery this turned out to be. The prose is nothing short of masterful, with the opening chapters unfolding like a gripping movie script or a thrilling action novel. It does a great job to capture the dramatic denouement of one of Italy’s most significant historical epochs, bringing the intrigues and grandeur of the Medici era to life in a way that is both captivating and enlightening. Paul Strathern might be an academic, but he has a novelist nestled in his writing style for sure.
This book is truly entertaining and has been profoundly educational for me. It masterfully weaves together the numerous, diverse threads of the Renaissance, placing the comprehensive influence of the Medici family, the Church and intellectual of this period into clear context. I knew nothing about the role of the dynasty in all this, but I found that prior familiarity was unnecessary to appreciate the depth of the history. The narrative is both enlightening and engaging, making the history of the Medici come alive in a way that is both vivid and truly memorable.
Yet, what an extraordinary discovery this turned out to be. The prose is nothing short of masterful, with the opening chapters unfolding like a gripping movie script or a thrilling action novel. It does a great job to capture the dramatic denouement of one of Italy’s most significant historical epochs, bringing the intrigues and grandeur of the Medici era to life in a way that is both captivating and enlightening. Paul Strathern might be an academic, but he has a novelist nestled in his writing style for sure.
This book is truly entertaining and has been profoundly educational for me. It masterfully weaves together the numerous, diverse threads of the Renaissance, placing the comprehensive influence of the Medici family, the Church and intellectual of this period into clear context. I knew nothing about the role of the dynasty in all this, but I found that prior familiarity was unnecessary to appreciate the depth of the history. The narrative is both enlightening and engaging, making the history of the Medici come alive in a way that is both vivid and truly memorable.
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April 15, 2023Delivers Just as the Title Says
Having gotten pretty hooked on the history of the Roman Republic and Empire, it was a natural progression to want to understand the later history of the Italian Renaissance, along with all the warring city-states and complicated power struggles of them with the Papal States, European Powers, and Eastern Orthodox Church. It’s just such a convoluted and fascinating mess, and yet despite all the power struggles and brutality and violence, it also gave birth to this incredible flowering of intellectual creativity that eschewed the narrow and dogmatic Medieval Christian mentality, and produced such artistic geniuses as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and the stunning architecture, much inspired by classical Greek and Roman culture.
In addition to some audiobooks from the Great Courses, I also watched two very good drama series that helped me with a visual picture of the major Medici and Borgia personages that are covered by this excellent and highly-detailed book. One was The Medici (3 seasons, 2016-2019), with which really was both exciting and compelling and featured an excellent international cast that also included some familiar names like James Madden, Sean Bean, and Dustin Hoffman. Another was Leonardo (2021), and 8-part Italian production in English starring Aidan Turner. He really captures to complex and insatiably curious character of Leonardo, and the storyline and period mesh very well with The Medici to give you a bigger picture. There is also a drama series called The Borgias which I have not yet seen but I imagine that would give even more insight of that notorious family.
Having gotten pretty hooked on the history of the Roman Republic and Empire, it was a natural progression to want to understand the later history of the Italian Renaissance, along with all the warring city-states and complicated power struggles of them with the Papal States, European Powers, and Eastern Orthodox Church. It’s just such a convoluted and fascinating mess, and yet despite all the power struggles and brutality and violence, it also gave birth to this incredible flowering of intellectual creativity that eschewed the narrow and dogmatic Medieval Christian mentality, and produced such artistic geniuses as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and the stunning architecture, much inspired by classical Greek and Roman culture.
In addition to some audiobooks from the Great Courses, I also watched two very good drama series that helped me with a visual picture of the major Medici and Borgia personages that are covered by this excellent and highly-detailed book. One was The Medici (3 seasons, 2016-2019), with which really was both exciting and compelling and featured an excellent international cast that also included some familiar names like James Madden, Sean Bean, and Dustin Hoffman. Another was Leonardo (2021), and 8-part Italian production in English starring Aidan Turner. He really captures to complex and insatiably curious character of Leonardo, and the storyline and period mesh very well with The Medici to give you a bigger picture. There is also a drama series called The Borgias which I have not yet seen but I imagine that would give even more insight of that notorious family.
December 28, 2023
A sweeping history of one of the most important political dynasties of western civilization, “Medici” by Paul Strathern does an admirable job condensing 300 years of history into an accessible volume of narrative storytelling. The story of the Medici family is the story of the Renaissance and Strathern paints the picture of this dynasty of bankers turned politicians turned royalty as the financiers and “godfathers” of that movement which brought humanity out of the Middle Ages. Many famous characters come and go in the telling as the likes of Da Vinci, Machiavelli, and Michelangelo intersect with the Medici.
I found their story, above all else, to be at times deeply sympathetic. Starting as an obscure peasantry, the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Medici aspired to greater and built up their family over generations. Along the way, they put this wealth to use patronizing some of the greatest artists in history. Their meteoric rise makes their inevitable fall all the more tragic, and I was gripped by the trials and tribulations of the family as Strathern traced the lineage through the centuries. This is an excellent book on not just the Medici family but the evolution of the Italian Renaissance.
I found their story, above all else, to be at times deeply sympathetic. Starting as an obscure peasantry, the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Medici aspired to greater and built up their family over generations. Along the way, they put this wealth to use patronizing some of the greatest artists in history. Their meteoric rise makes their inevitable fall all the more tragic, and I was gripped by the trials and tribulations of the family as Strathern traced the lineage through the centuries. This is an excellent book on not just the Medici family but the evolution of the Italian Renaissance.
August 11, 2024
I don't know how my mother got her hands on ARC but it shows.
"Finally, on November 31st XXX died." - is it just me, or does November have only 30 days? (checked it later, XXX died on 31st October)
"In year, 1607 died XXX and two years later, in 1613, YYY died." - something must be wrong with maths here.
Other than these, the book was quite enjoyable. Maybe a bit too dry, but I didn't mind that. I've always liked the stories about the Medici and the Borgias and Sforzas and all those nice people but didn't really know a lot about them and this book allowed me to understand it all better. Btw. it's astonishing how everyone knew everyone back then. Also, loved hearing long term plans that involved convincing the Pope to make a 7-year old child cardinal (but the Pope said, that it will only be announced when said child with be 16).
Pity the last of the Medici were described very shortly. I get that the glory of the family was by then long gone, but the ending felt rushed.
"Finally, on November 31st XXX died." - is it just me, or does November have only 30 days? (checked it later, XXX died on 31st October)
"In year, 1607 died XXX and two years later, in 1613, YYY died." - something must be wrong with maths here.
Other than these, the book was quite enjoyable. Maybe a bit too dry, but I didn't mind that. I've always liked the stories about the Medici and the Borgias and Sforzas and all those nice people but didn't really know a lot about them and this book allowed me to understand it all better. Btw. it's astonishing how everyone knew everyone back then. Also, loved hearing long term plans that involved convincing the Pope to make a 7-year old child cardinal (but the Pope said, that it will only be announced when said child with be 16).
Pity the last of the Medici were described very shortly. I get that the glory of the family was by then long gone, but the ending felt rushed.
June 12, 2020
Overall, this is a fantastic retelling of the Medici dynasty and legacy. Local events and a thorough retelling of all the activities of the renaissance. We start with the growth of the family from Lorenzo the magnificent and how he started the family as a dynasty through banking and politics. We see his growth and interaction with the Papacy and European governments. The interactions with the HRE and Italy (Florence) are extensive. We meet Leonardo and explore his relationship with Michaelangelo, Leonardo and other key figures of the era.
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