Clear, concise, good information. New perspective about how god influences trade and vice versa, it seems both were the driving factors behind the Renaissance, new perspective on the Medici family not being totally evil.
I picked this book up in the museum of the Duomo in Florence because my husband and I both wanted to better understand where the Medicis got their money and what motivated them to acquire, commission, extort and preserve so much amazing art in its many forms. This treatise provided some historical background but also seemed to be anti-religion. I also found myself wanting substantiation of some of the author's conclusions because they seemed to be instances of personal moralizing v. factually-based research. Thankfully, half the book are pictures of art and architecture.