The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance Notes

1. Their financial wealth translated into political wealth
• The Medici are the leading family in Florence
2. Giovanni de Medici died and his son Cosimo de Medici lost his mentor
3. Giovanni was buried in the Church of Saint Lorenz
4. Brunelleschi wanted to build the largest dome
• There was no way of knowing whether the dome would be successful or not
• This worried Cosimo
5. Cosimo was summoned to the Palace of Government and the Albizzi family planned to wipe him out
6. Cosimo was at the mercy of his enemies
7. He was imprisoned in the highest room in the tower of the Palace of the Government
8. The public had to vote for the fate of Cosimo
• He was accused of treason and the results were that he was guilty
• He faced execution
9. Cosimo had friends with some of the enemies and he made a negotiation with them and he was freed
10. Brunelleschi was throne into jail for being friends with Cosimo
• Construction of the dome was halted
11. Cosimo and his family were banished from Florence
12. The Albizzi lost control of the city
13. Cosimo's exile was over and he returned to the city
• He was back in control
14. Brunelleschi continued work on the dome and the Medici bank continued to grow
15. In Britain there was no room for social mobility
• In Italy it is different
16. The dome was completed and it was the greatest architectural feat in the western world