HIS243H1 Lecture : Lec 8 - Politics in the Renaissance
Document Summary
City state republic to duchy florence. Things in politics we take for granted would have been unusual for them. What did it mean to survive in politics. Florence city state: 3 stages (3 individuals, 3 forms of government) Republican oligarchy lorenzo de medici (1469-1492) Northern europe: through 14h c. wars > immediate wars with neighbours and war between larger city units (for political/trade advantage) Very expensive > florence almost bankrupt itself because it had to hire mercenaries; no standing army: geographically successful controls tuscany, 1380s-1390s > peninsula wars (particularly that with milan) means trouble. Goes seriously into debt and only relieved by bonds that citizens would buy (forced loans) Become unsustainable: 1427 started new tax system (catast0) Had to fill out a census and taxed on new worth. Creates for the first time a very detailed census: 1430s strains continue to get worse. Albizzi (wealthier) v. medici (popular: 1433 albizzi take control of the government (florence loses battle with.
