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46 CHAPTER 2 | European Society in the Renaissance 1350–1550

How did political and economic developments in Italy

shape the Renaissance?

he magnificent art and new ways of thinking in they acquired control of papal banking. Florentine
Tthe Renaissance rested on economic and polit- mercantile families began to dominate European
ical developments in the city-states of northern Italy. banking on both sides of the Alps, setting up offices in
Economic growth laid the material basis for the Italian major European and North African cities. The profits
Renaissance, and ambitious merchants gained politi- from loans, investments, and money exchanges that
cal power to match their economic power. They then poured back to Florence were pumped into urban
used their money and power to buy luxuries and hire industries such as clothmaking, and by the early four-
talent in a system of patronage, through which cit- teenth century the city had about eighty thousand
ies, groups, and individuals commissioned writers people, about twice the population of London at that
and artists to produce specific works. Political lead- time. Profits contributed to the city’s economic vital-
ers in Italian cities admired the traditions and power ity and allowed banking families to control the city’s
this sample.
of ancient Rome, and this esteem shaped their com- politics and culture.
Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
missions. Thus economics, politics, and culture were By the first quarter of the fourteenth century, the
Worth Publishers.
interconnected. economic foundations of Florence were so strong that
even severe crises could not destroy the city. In 1344
For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.
Trade and Prosperity King Edward III of England repudiated his huge debts
to Florentine bankers, forcing some of them into
Uncorrected proofs have been used in
Northern Italian cities led the way in changes in busi- bankruptcy. Soon after, Florence suffered frightfully
ness procedures and a growth in trade, a transformation from the Black Death, losing at least half its popu-
of the European economy often called the Commercial lation, and serious labor unrest shook the political
Revolution. By the middle of the twelfth century Ven- establishment (see “How did the plague affect Euro-
by Bedford, Freeman &
ice, supported by a huge merchant marine, had grown pean society?” in Chapter 1). Nevertheless, the basic
enormously rich through overseas trade, as had Genoa Florentine economic structure remained stable, and
and Milan, which had their own sizable fleets. These the city grew again.
cities made important strides in shipbuilding that In Florence, Venice, and other thriving Italian cities,
allowed their ships to sail all year long at accelerated wealth allowed many people greater material pleasures,
speeds and to carry more and more merchandise. a more comfortable life, imported luxuries, and leisure
Another commercial leader, and the city where the time to appreciate and patronize the arts. Merchants
Renaissance began, was Florence, situated on fertile and bankers commissioned public and private build-
Copyright ©
soil along the Arno River. Its favorable location on ings from architects and hired sculptors and painters to
the main road northward from Rome made Florence decorate their homes and churches. Despite the massive
Distributed
a commercial hub, and the city grew wealthy buying loss of life in the plague, the rich, social-climbing resi-
and selling all types of goods throughout Europe and dents of Venice, Florence, Genoa, and Rome came to
the Mediterranean — grain, cloth, wool, weapons, see life more as an opportunity to be enjoyed than as a
armor, spices, glass, and wine. painful pilgrimage to the City of God.
Florentine merchants also loaned and invested
money, and toward the end of the thirteenth century Communes and Republics
of Northern Italy
■ Renaissance A French word meaning “rebirth,” used to describe The northern Italian cities were communes, sworn
the rebirth of the culture of classical antiquity in Italy during the associations of free men led by members of mer-
fourteenth to sixteenth centuries.
chant guilds. Like merchants elsewhere, merchants
■ patronage Financial support of writers and artists by cities, groups, in Italy began in the twelfth century to seek polit-
and individuals, often to produce specific works or works in specific ical and economic independence from the nobles
styles. who owned the land. In contrast to nobles else-
■ Commercial Revolution The transformation of the European economy where who maintained their social distinction from
as a result of changes in business procedures and growth in trade. merchants, those in Italy frequently moved into
■ communes Sworn associations of free men in Italian cities led by the cities, marrying the daughters of rich com-
merchant guilds. mercial families and starting their own businesses,
often with money they had gained through the
■ signori Government by one-man rule in Italian cities such as Milan;
also refers to these rulers. dowries provided by their wives. This merger of
■ courts Magnificent households and palaces where signori and
other rulers lived, conducted business, and supported the arts.

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