4.3 The Medici & The Borgias

Lesson 4.3

The Medici & Borgias

Wealthy and powerful families supported Renaissance artists and thinkers in many Italian cities.

Wealthy Florence

There were other rich families in Florence, but it was the

Medici (MEH-dee-chee) who clawed their way to the top.

​

Like other great families in the city, the Medici

built their fortune as bankers and textile merchants.

​

They were part of a wealthy merchant class that

had developed in Italy and gained great power.

​

The family’s money bought them so much political power

that the Medici ruled Florence during the Renaissance.

Notes

4.3 The Medici & Borgias

But the Medici weren’t all about money and political gain. ​

​

Rich families competed to restore the glory of ancient Rome’s civilization to their cities and so became patrons of the arts.

​

Patrons used some of their wealth to encourage and support artists.

​

This support allowed the artists to create

and work full-time on their masterpieces.

Notes

4.3 The Medici & Borgias

Wealthy Florence

The Medici family made sure that Florence became

the place to be for the great artists and scholars of the day.

​

They spent fortunes attracting the best and brightest to their city.

​

No member of the Medici family was more successful at

bringing artists and scholars to Florence than Lorenzo de

Medici, also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent. A poet himself, Lorenzo supported some of the most important artists of the Renaissance, including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Notes

4.3 The Medici & Borgias

Wealthy Florence

Powerful Rome

Florence got a head start, but eventually Renaissance

ideas and a new flood of people made their way to Rome. ​

​

In time, Rome became almost as powerful as

Florence, and the two cities competed for dominance.

​

When Michelangelo created his statue of the biblical hero David, it

was originally placed outside the center of Florence’s government.

​

The towering, muscular David stood there, tense and ready for

battle, with his eyes looking warningly in the direction of Rome.

Notes

4.3 The Medici & Borgias

The Borgia (BOR-gee-ah) family, originally from Spain,

was the most powerful group of patrons in Rome.

​

Since the Church controlled Rome, the Borgias attempted to control the Church. In the 1400’s, two members of the family became popes.

​

Another Borgia named Cesare (CHAY-suh-ray) was made a cardinal, a high-ranking member of the clergy, at the age of 17. Like many of the Borgias, Cesare used political methods that were less than honest.

​

However, they did bring Leonardo da Vinci to Rome.

Notes

4.3 The Medici & Borgias

Wealthy Florence

Multiple Choice

How did the Medici build their fortune?

• Selling paintings and sculptures

• As bankers and trading in textiles

• Trading in spices and gold

• Mining gold and silver

Multiple Choice

Both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were supported in Florence by:

• Lorenzo de Medici

• Lorenzo da Vinci

• Cesare de Borgia

• The Pope

Multiple Choice

Who had authority over Rome?

• The Borgia

• The Emperor

• The Medici

• The Pope

Multiple Choice

Who ruled Florence during the Renaissance?

• Patrons

• The Borgia

• The People

• The Medici

Multiple Choice

Which two Italian cities competed for dominance during the Renaissance?

• Florence and Rome

• Rome and Avignon

• Florence and London

• Florence and Paris

Multiple Choice

Lorenzo de Medici was also known as:

• Lorenzo the Magnificent

• Lorenzo da Vinci

• Lorenzo the Poet

• Cesare

Multiple Choice

Who were the most powerful group of patrons in Rome?

• The Borgia

• The Medici

• The Strozzi

• The Rucellai