Not long after coming to power, Lorenzo de' Medici has to fend off enemies at home and abroad. Unfortunately, in the course of protecting Florence from a crisis that could spiral out of control, Lorenzo sets the stage for a humanitarian disaster. But how much was he really to blame?

Even as a small child, Lorenzo had been thrust into the role of the public face of the Medici regime. Now an adult, Lorenzo's own marriage to a Roman noblewoman from a clan claiming the Emperor Augustus and Julius Caesar as ancestors is a chance for the Medici to ascend even higher. Meanwhile, Piero is finally succumbing to his gout, just when both the domestic and foreign situations are starting to fall apart. 

An update on the show schedule for 10/29 and a thank you to everyone making sure this podcast isn't just me talking to myself.

Piero de' Medici narrowly escaped death or abduction. But did everything happen as Piero and his son Lorenzo said? And just how will the Party of the Hill survive when they apparently bet everything on one scheme? 

Piero de' Medici seems to be enjoying a smooth transition to power, but soon enough a rival political party takes shape on the high ground just across the river from the Palazzo de' Medici. When legal measures fail to dislodge the Medici, the so-called "Party of the Hill" proves itself more than willing to resort to more drastic measures. Meanwhile we get a better look at Piero, the math professor of the Renaissance, and his wife Lucrezia, wife/mother/patron/businesswoman/writer.

At the height of his political power, Cosimo de' Medici is being overwhelmed with illness and personal tragedy. Who will succeed him to his invisible, nameless throne? His son Piero, who unfortunately is a middle-aged man so sick no one thinks he will live for much longer.

For maps, bibliographies, and more, go to medicipodcast.com.

Support the show through Venmo: @ Chad-Denton-15 or https://www.patreon.com/medicipodcast.

The theme music is “La Disperata”, composed by Vincenzo Ruffo (ca. 1510-1587) and performed by Jon Sayles.

Cosimo de' Medici quickly established a regime that operated within Florence's constitution but gave Cosimo an almost unchallenged power over the state. Unfortunately, Cosimo's government was a delicate structure, and the pandemonium of Italian Renaissance politics threatened to bring it all tumbling down. 

For maps, bibliographies, and more, go to medicipodcast.com.

Support the show through Venmo: @ Chad-Denton-15 or https://www.patreon.com/medicipodcast.

The theme music is “La Disperata”, composed by Vincenzo Ruffo (ca. 1510-1587) and performed by Jon Sayles.

With a combination of patience and political maneuvering, Cosimo turns the tables on his enemies and returns to Florence in triumph. His first major act is to host an attempt to reunify the long-divided Greek and Latin churches. It has rather mixed results, but it does make something clear to the rulers of Europe: Cosimo is no longer just a banker.  

For maps, bibliographies, and more, go to medicipodcast.com. 

Support the show through Venmo: @ Chad-Denton-15 or https://www.patreon.com/medicipodcast.

The theme music is “La Disperata”, composed by Vincenzo Ruffo (ca. 1510-1587) and performed by Jon Sayles.

As soon as he inherits his father's place as head of the rich, international Medici Bank, Cosimo gets a target on his back in a Florence where politics are increasingly molded by the sponsorship of the rich and not by the guilds. The minute he steps on the public arena, not only is Cosimo's political career is in danger, but his very life. 

For the second part of our two-parter on the Renaissance, we look at "the new." We see here how the Renaissance gave us new forms of art, music, and architecture, but also new notions of civility, stricter governments, state censorship, and even the decline of women's political influence.

Check out maps, images, and more: medicipodcast.com/ 

Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/chadsdenton 

Drop some change through Venmo: @Chad-Denton-15