In the 1500s, Florence transitioned from a chaotic failed Republic into a hereditary Duchy under the Medici family, marking the peak and eventual shifting of the High Renaissance. While artistic and intellectual production remained high, the city faced severe political turmoil from within as well as foreign interference.
At least, this is what history books like to tell us. After all, to the victor go the spoils and who best to write history than the rulers. The Medici took control of a floundering Florentine Republic, established themselves as the ruling class, and put a Medici on the Papal throne, solidifying their position as rulers both in the physical world and the spiritual one.
So, what did Florence look like in the 1500s?
Most of what we know comes from historical books, laws, letters, pamphlets and the art of the time. It, by all accounts, seemed to be like any other Renaissance era city. Full of life ranging from the peasant class to the merchant middle class, to the nobility and Church. The leading religion of the time in the area was Catholicism and Pope Leo X was placed on the Papal throne as the spiritual leader. The art left by artists like Michelangelo, showed a picture of an era of deep romanticism and awe of the human form and its relation to its creator. Books, like The Prince written by Niccolo Machiavelli in 1513, paint a different picture. The Prince, advocates for realism over idealism and encourages leaders to act in the states interests to ensure stability, at any cost.
So Florence, while a flourishing city, was led by corrupt leaders influenced and inspired by Machiavelli's book. And this tragedy is where our story takes place.
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