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The Rise And Fall Of The House Of Medici
At its height Renaissance Florence was a centre of enormous wealth, power and influence. A republican city-state funded by trade and banking, its often bloody political scene was dominated by rich mercantile families, the most famous of which were the Medici. This enthralling book charts the family's huge influence on the political, economic and cultural history of Florenc...more
Paperback, 311 pages
Published
1979
by Penguin Group
(first published 1974)
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Mar 04, 2009
Tisha
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Art History/Renaissance fans
I've always been intrigued by the Medici family primarily due to their large role as patrons of the arts in the Renaissance Era. Also, being such a wealthy and powerful family they played many roles throughout that whole range of history. I finally picked up this book, which had been on my shelf for a while, in preparation for my upcoming trip to Italy. It was a great book to get a grasp on the chronological history of the entire Medici family. I was pleased to see this non-fiction book was not...more
4 likes · like · see review
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Jul 23, 2010
Jonathan
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
italian-history
I'm somewhat torn about this book. The writing is well done and the subject matter, the Medici, SHOULD be interesting. But the author seems to focus on the more trivial details of this family's life and times. So much detail goes in to describing what the Medici liked to eat, what they liked to wear, what they did for fun, it sometimes seems like this is the special Medici issue of USWeekly. The title of the book would seem indicate the focus of the book is HOW the Medici came to power and HOW t...more
2 likes · like · see review
The good, the bad and the ugly history of the Medici family.
The first known Medici was Averado, a knight under Charlemagne.
The Medici are the first princely dynasty to win their status not by warfare, marriage or inheritance but through commerce. They come to Florence in the 12th century from the nearby countryside. Their ancestral home is in the Mugello valley.
During the next two centuries the family, amassing a fortune through banking and trade, begins also to play a prominent part in Florenc...more
This book is written mostly about the early Medici’s with the first third of the book being about the legendary Cosimo de’ Medici, the middle taking in another 40 years and 4 Medici’s and the end cramming in the last 200 years including 2 popes.
With my pre-existing (though sketchy) knowledge of 16th and 17th century Italian history, from Michelangelo and the Sistine chapel to Martin Luther and Galileo, this book really filled in and connected some people and kingdoms in a way I wasn’t aware of....more
With my pre-existing (though sketchy) knowledge of 16th and 17th century Italian history, from Michelangelo and the Sistine chapel to Martin Luther and Galileo, this book really filled in and connected some people and kingdoms in a way I wasn’t aware of....more
An older book but worth the read if you are interested in Italian history. I would actually give it 3.5 stars if I could. A quote: "This Visconti was widely believed to be mad and was certainly unbalanced. He had been known on summer days to strip the rich clothes from his grotesquely fat and dirty body and to roll about naked in his garden. So ugly that he refused to have his portrait painted, so weak on his deformed legs that he could not rise from his chair without leaning on a page; so nervo...more
You won't need a degree in history, or deep understanding of Renaissance Italy, to get something from Hibbert's well-written overview of the Medici family. Hibbert traces the rise to prominence of the banking family, from their early successes under Cosimo, to their later failures under a series of family leaders unequal to the task. He keeps the story of the Medici moving without falling prey to the recitation of minutia that bogs down so much historical work, which makes this book very accessi...more
The family that greeds together, stays together. The Medici were such an amazing clan, a group that did much to influence history. Though Italians, they also changed the culture of France, when Caterina de Medici became the Queen of France and brought Italian epicurean standards to the still-Gothic French.
If this family existed today, they would be all over the tabloids and probably have their own sitcom, but they were THE standard bearers for the Renaissance, so their successes and challenges c...more
If this family existed today, they would be all over the tabloids and probably have their own sitcom, but they were THE standard bearers for the Renaissance, so their successes and challenges c...more
Oct 15, 2009
·Karen·
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
history,
non-fiction
This was an ideal companion to Tim Parks’ Medici Money: Parks is good at explaining the workings of fifteenth century banking, but Hibbert is better at bringing the people to life. His approach is traditional: the biographies of the powerful, the concerns of those who have the say and little concern for lesser mortals. It’s lively and readable, takes the story right through to the Grand Dukes of the seventeenth century and is excellent on the shifting of loyalties and European coalitions. There...more
4 likes · like · see review
Florentine History is greatly influenced by this powerful banking family, in the Arts and culturally. The many successors of Medici span several centuries however the original first family suffers the arrows of envy and debauchery from the outside and in. The author brings to light how the Medici rose to prominence and how they celebrated life and shared this celebration with the populo minore, the citizens and common people of Florence. Passages describe lavish weddings in front of the Pitti Pa...more
I read this book as preparation for a trip to Florence, and I found it as helpful to understanding that great city as the numerous tour books we had perused. A very helpful introduction to renaissance Florence. The author is especially good in recounting the lives and influence of Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent. He also does well in recounting the time of Savonarola and the Medici popes. It does seem to loose steam when he discusses the Grand Dukes after Cosimo I. Still, a good rea...more
This is a pretty great all-purpose history of the Medici family as well as of Florence during (and immediately following) the Italian Renaissance. It’s a popular history, so it’s a quick and easy read – free from the pedantic ramblings of more scholarly books. It’s not, however, a particularly good source for art history (a general knowledge of the artistic achievements of the Renaissance might be a good prerequisite). There are fine anecdotes told in a quick, lively style. I recommend it highly...more
Picked this up after my foray to Florence several years ago. I thought I should know more about the Medici's and the way they influenced the culture of the city. Seeing how it was published in 1974, the information about the family is about as up to date as one could hope for, (it ending the history in 1743 with the death of Gian Gastone). But the whole time I was reading the book and simultaneously looking at the map of Florence as a reference, I wondered if I might be better off just taking a...more
This book was just okay. Some parts were truly interesting, most notably the section regarding the two Medici Popes, Leo X and Clement VII. However, other sections dragged, most notably the end section, which covers like 200 years in 50 pages. Something that is relatively minor but really bothered me was that there was no family tree in the book. I had to make my own just to have any clue on how all these people were related, and for a book about a historial family, that seems like something imp...more
Aug 23, 2007
Cat
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fashionistas.
Shelves:
biography,
europeanhistory
Well, reading about the Medici Popes certainly was eye opening. Hard to believe the Catholic church survived, but I guess they are a pretty resilient bunch.
I wanted to read about the Medici's because I'm interested in the origins of capitalism in Europe. I had the impression (wrongly, I now realize) that the Medici's were forerunners of the modern capitalist economy.
While it is true that the family got its start in banking, they quickly moved into the Church and full time Princehood. Whether the...more
I wanted to read about the Medici's because I'm interested in the origins of capitalism in Europe. I had the impression (wrongly, I now realize) that the Medici's were forerunners of the modern capitalist economy.
While it is true that the family got its start in banking, they quickly moved into the Church and full time Princehood. Whether the...more
Feb 13, 2013
Sabrina Leyrson
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
history,
non-fiction
Easy and interesting read. I would have preferred if the author spent more time either exploring the importance of Medici buildings or at least have transliterated their titles out of Italian in the notes. A little more time could have been devoted to the character of the family as well. In particular, how the Medici fell in power and the final member of the family could have used more than four or five pages of illumation.
Overall a decent work of history that is accessable to all people. Quickl...more
Overall a decent work of history that is accessable to all people. Quickl...more
"The house of Medici" reads like well-written fiction making you admire, laugh at and feel sorry for the members of this amazing and prolific family. They all appear to be treated justly by Hibbert who seems to have no favorites and attempts at summarizing no person with a few dismissive words. It is inevitable that many intriguing topics are only touched upon. Also, the book focuses on the Medici in Florence, little is said about the Medicis who became famous somewhere else.
Oct 25, 2010
Sandra Strange
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
history-and-nonfiction
This history traces the rise (and petering out) of the Medici family of Renaissance Florence. Murder and mayhem, wealth and excess, success and spectacular failure make this family fascinating, and Hibbard has a good sense of the kinds of details that make this family's story real and vital as today's news. From Lorenzo the Magnificent's high culture to the spendthrift ways of the last Medici pope, these men (along with their wives and daughters) come to life in this book.
Very readable; however, an overly detailed following of the Medici's. A good book for a scholar of the Medici's, Florence and the late Renaissance period. In some ways, a very sad and tragic story about how a how a family obtained its wealth and squandered it away over many generations. Not only did the family decline over the years, but while doing so, unfortunately in the end, the Medici's devastated Florence and Tuscany.
Extremely well researched and authoritative book on the Medici's written...more
Extremely well researched and authoritative book on the Medici's written...more
i was really interested in the medici family after visiting firenze last summer. i got this from the local book store. it is definitely more lively if you could finish the book while in firenze... given it makes a lot of colorful references to the locality. i am not an italian studies major nor am i well-versed in the history of renaissance so it became kind of hard to follow after i left the country... given so many names were mentioned...
Aug 04, 2011
Anja Fruelund
added it
Interesting read, but either Hibbert lacked reliable sources when it came to relating the life of the last members of the Medici dynasty or he didn´t find them interesting enough, I don´t know, but either way the result is that the final chapters aren´t as extensive as the first - it feels like he is rifling through their life instead of giving the detailed account that he gave of the rising members of the Medici House.
I just finished this long history book. We recently travelled to Italy, Florence included. I was curious to learn more about this oligarchy. So often the person that makes the money, works and sacrifices for it, appreciates it. The family members that are born into it, take it for granted and squander it. It is interesting to see the diffences in the many generations.
http://nhw.livejournal.com/441389.html[return][return]Mid-70s volume on the famous Italian family who took over Florence and Tuscany and were (on some readings) responsible for the Renaissance. The best bit is the first section, on the rise to power of Cosimo de' Medici in the early fifteenth century; after that it all seemed to descend into a succession of biographical data including each family member's patronage of the arts. Disappointingly little context was given; I'd have liked to know a b...more
I am glad that I first went to Florence and then read a book.
The book is rich with details about the buildings and places, and without seeing them it would probably be dull. This way I feel I learned a lot.
Also, while reading it I understood why was I totally confused there by all the unbelievable acomplishments of Cosimo and Lorenzo Medici. I mean, I understood even there that there were mor ethan one Cosimo and more than one Lorenzo, but only in reading this book I understood how many Cosimos...more
The book is rich with details about the buildings and places, and without seeing them it would probably be dull. This way I feel I learned a lot.
Also, while reading it I understood why was I totally confused there by all the unbelievable acomplishments of Cosimo and Lorenzo Medici. I mean, I understood even there that there were mor ethan one Cosimo and more than one Lorenzo, but only in reading this book I understood how many Cosimos...more
An enjoyable journey through Renaissance and Baroque Italy and Florence in particular. Who else but the Italians could have created a world so full of beauty, corruption, and violence? While generally well researched and written the author's careless use of pronouns and run-on sentences made his thoughts difficult to follow at times. With some careful editing the readability of this book would be much improved.
The House of the Medici is a great book for people who want and intro into the Medici line and a feel for Renaissance Italy. However, the book is too short to go into detail about the Medici family.
This book is a good read or anyone who enjoys showtime's "The Borgias."
This book is a good read or anyone who enjoys showtime's "The Borgias."
Finally I know who Savonarola is! A great book on the vagaries of power. I think I would have liked Cosimo de’ Medici and his grandson Lorenzo, Il Magnifico — ruthless bastards, but with taste. Makes me wonder how Oriental dynasties were able to rule so long. Points to further reading.
I haven't read many biographies to compare it to. But, the Medicis have already written a fascinating history for themselves no matter who puts it to paper, so it was an enjoyable read for me anyways. I thought it was very informative, and it held my attention to the end.
ISBN-10: 0688053394 (Mine is the Polio Society – out of print)
This is the best book on the Medici I’ve read. Went through it in preparation for a three week trip this year. It made Firenze much more interesting. Wish I could spend months with in Florence.
This is the best book on the Medici I’ve read. Went through it in preparation for a three week trip this year. It made Firenze much more interesting. Wish I could spend months with in Florence.
Continuing on my year-long education about Italy and the Italians, I
loved reading this history. Christopher Hibbert provides lots of details of daily life in Florence and Tuscany and truly absorbing biographical information about the great Cosimo and Lorenzo de Medici. It could be said that they created Florence as a world power, as well as the character of Italy and even the Renaissance itself.
loved reading this history. Christopher Hibbert provides lots of details of daily life in Florence and Tuscany and truly absorbing biographical information about the great Cosimo and Lorenzo de Medici. It could be said that they created Florence as a world power, as well as the character of Italy and even the Renaissance itself.
i loved the detail, and the writing style makes the history very approachable. however, i was disappointed because despite the title, it was never really discussed just _how_ the medici established their deathgrip on florence. we enter the story after they'd already established it and continue on from there. it was to be expected, but i was also disappointed at the lack of information on the women medici.
all in all, though, i would definitely recommend this as an addition to rounding out one's k...more
all in all, though, i would definitely recommend this as an addition to rounding out one's k...more
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Christopher Hibbert, MC, FRSL, FRGS (5 March 1924 - 21 December 2008) was an English writer, historian and biographer. He has been called "a pearl of biographers" (New Statesman), was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the author of many books, including Disraeli, Edward VII, George IV, The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici, and Cavaliers and Roundheads.
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