AP Euro Story of the Renaissance
By Connor Powell
A long time ago Europe was in the midst of a very dark time. It was the present day country of Italy that was the first to rise out of the dark age and move into the Renaissance. One of the critical changes that propelled Italy into Renaissance was the creation of money. The Feudal System had relied on trade as the way of doing business. Most people just traded as a way of survival and never thought of purchasing anything luxurious. This all changed with creation of money. Money was easier to carry around and for some, better than trading. Families such as the Medici and Sforza families controlled the renaissance due to their massive amounts of wealth. The Sforza family controlled the military in Milan and were condottieri. They used their power as a way to take control of the politics and economy of Milan. The Medici's gained their extensive amount of wealth through banking. Banking became essential as a way for people to manage their money. The common currency used was the florins. The florin was the common currency of Italy, much like the euro is for Europe. These powerful families flaunted their wealth by building massive courts and practicing patronage; the Medici family, especially Cosimo De Medici, were known for this. Cosimo created his own Platonic academy to discuss the ideas of Plato. The court of Medici is still regarded as one of the most elaborate personal residences ever built. The renaissance was a time where city states and communes such as Milan, Florence, Naples, and Venice were controlled by powerful oligarchies composed of signori's. These oligarchies looked after the rich and made sure the money and power stayed with them. The popolo or the common people were fed up with these powerful families controlling the politics and economy of their city states. These folks made guilds as a way to protect themselves from unfair treatment in the workplace. These guilds that were created in renaissance Italy still serve as an outline to any labor union or guild that exists today. Renaissance Italy is often regarded as one of the most glorious times in human history due to the economic, social, and political changes that were made then and still affect our lives today.
By Connor Powell
A long time ago Europe was in the midst of a very dark time. It was the present day country of Italy that was the first to rise out of the dark age and move into the Renaissance. One of the critical changes that propelled Italy into Renaissance was the creation of money. The Feudal System had relied on trade as the way of doing business. Most people just traded as a way of survival and never thought of purchasing anything luxurious. This all changed with creation of money. Money was easier to carry around and for some, better than trading. Families such as the Medici and Sforza families controlled the renaissance due to their massive amounts of wealth. The Sforza family controlled the military in Milan and were condottieri. They used their power as a way to take control of the politics and economy of Milan. The Medici's gained their extensive amount of wealth through banking. Banking became essential as a way for people to manage their money. The common currency used was the florins. The florin was the common currency of Italy, much like the euro is for Europe. These powerful families flaunted their wealth by building massive courts and practicing patronage; the Medici family, especially Cosimo De Medici, were known for this. Cosimo created his own Platonic academy to discuss the ideas of Plato. The court of Medici is still regarded as one of the most elaborate personal residences ever built. The renaissance was a time where city states and communes such as Milan, Florence, Naples, and Venice were controlled by powerful oligarchies composed of signori's. These oligarchies looked after the rich and made sure the money and power stayed with them. The popolo or the common people were fed up with these powerful families controlling the politics and economy of their city states. These folks made guilds as a way to protect themselves from unfair treatment in the workplace. These guilds that were created in renaissance Italy still serve as an outline to any labor union or guild that exists today. Renaissance Italy is often regarded as one of the most glorious times in human history due to the economic, social, and political changes that were made then and still affect our lives today.