(Sir?) ? SAWYER

This file originated as a place-holder for a number of 15C figures and to provide a place to add 'Contemporary Events' from BN HT.

Founder of Medici was Giovanni di BICCI, a prosperous banker who left his fortune in 1429 to his son Cosimo the Elder, who turned the business into the city's most successful business, in effect becoming its political ldr, tho exercising his authority discreetly via intermediaries (i.e. a new kind of 'prince' w/a new kind of feudal estate). It was a peaceful hegemony. He was a great patron of artists and scholars and architects and left many great monuments. His son Piero Il Gottoso 'the gouty' only survived him by 5yrs and left all to HIS son Lorenzo 'il magnifico' 1449-92. Having escaped the 26 Apr 1478 Pazzi conspiracy (ass. attempt), L ruled like a true Renaissance prince, tho always unofficially. He was an excellent businessman, politician, humanist, patron and man of great sensitivity (wow, need more like him). When he d., the Dominican monk Savanarola emerged from a period of confusion and provoked the fall of the Medici (claiming corruption and evil). He so convinced Florentines that they made a 'bonfire of vanities' in 1497 for musical instruments, paintings and books were burned [:-(]. But a year later, S himself was burned there (same spot, cf Harring).

By 1434, 'The [still unofficial] power of the Medici became virtually absolute from 1434 on, after Cosimo the Elder returned triumphantly from an exile to which he'd been banished by his enemies, quickly vanquished the latter, and declared that those who wish to hold/expand power can't always respect Christian morality (hmmm, so of course this made a strong impression on Machiavelli and many others) i.e. 'states can't be held w/rosaries' (Viroli p13, cf Harring).

In 1464, Cosimo the Elder died, 'vastly rich and greatly honored, mourned by citizens as a great Florentine, and solemnly proclaimed the Father of his Country' (Viroli p13). Succeeded by his son Piero, who was sickly and d1469, survived by 2 sons Lorenzo [il magnifico], Giuliano. Lorenzo reduced Volterra in 1472, proving his ldrshp mettle. But this prompted the famous Pazzi (another pwrful family) conspiracy, an ass. attempt on Sun 26 Apr 1478. Giuliano was k. but Lorenzo escaped. The Pazzi tried but failed to 'raise a revolt of the Florentine people in the name of liberty and against Medici tyranny' (14, like always, not interested in 'liberty' or 'tyranny' but only their OWN power!). Machiavelli was 9yo. Lorenzo retook pwr but faced Pope Sixtus IV, who'd actively supported the Pazzi. When the Pope tried to ally w/Naples against Florence, Lorenzo himself traveled to Naples Dec 1479 and concluded peace w/King Ferdinand Mar 1480. When he got home he was hailed as 'savior of his homeland and honored as true lord of the city' (16). War averted, the citizens returned to their 'trivial pursuits' i.e. making money, court intrigues, ... (here comes Savonarola, cf Harring).

Spring 1492, bad omen, bolt of lightning strkes dome of Santa Reparata, sending large stones down near Medici family home. A comet appeared in the sky, wolves heard howling. S said all portended d. of Lorenzo, who did in fact d. 6 Apr 1492. Lorenzo had crafted a fragile yet wonderful equilibrium among the 5 leading states of Italy - Rep of Florence, Kingdom of Naples, Duchy of Milan, Rep of Venice and papal states of Rome. He'd played their ambitions to keep power balanced, but with him gone, no one else could, so the balance in Italy began to wobble (Harring).

Age of Discovery (or Exploration) was done mostly using Portugese caravels, only 70ft long (pic BN HT p104). CC's Santa Maria was only 117ft long.

There were 3 important native civs flourishing among American Indians before Europeans arrived in late 15C. Aztecs of Mexico fnd'd their capital Tenochtitlan in 1325 where Mexico City now stands. Fine architects and a system of picture writing. Maya of C America had a much older civ, dev'd from c500 BC to a peak in 8C AD. Reached a high standard in architecture, math and astronomy, but weak politically, in decline by 15C. Inca of Andes in Peru ruled perhaps 7M, fine architects, potters and metal-workers w/well-org'd govt and superb roads. Spanish conquistadors took >30yrs to subdue them (BN HT p107).

Its trading empire probably made Portugal the leading Great Power of the 15C, tho Ming China, Mogul India and Islam were rivals. Also, Poland-Lithuania under the Jagiellonian dynasty became by the mid-15C the greatest power in Central Europe (see ToN, bl-aewh).

cf ahnen-sg, Roman