I love that you’ve written this. I actually wrote a very similar piece for my family ahead of traveling there last year, so no one has ever seen it. (Literally, just 20 people or so). It has some slightly different emphases (commercial revolution, positive impact of some instability, need for the money makers to wash away their usurious sins, etc.), I missed the geographic factor, and I never really finished it, but it’s similar in other ways. Loved reading yours. would be curious your thoughts: https://ianrtemple.substack.com/p/the-rise-and-fall-of-florence
Nice! Thank you for checking it out! I just re-read it to see how it compares to Tomas' version. His is certainly tighter, but I feel like mine holds up and tells a bit more of the narrative.
When I was working on this for my family, I remember being like... how come no one else seems to have published a piece on this? It seems like a really interesting historical question. Glad that Tomas has changed that.
Yours definitely has more of the story on the ground. Seems ripe for a dozen different Netflix series, hey? Although I'm sure lots of films/ TV shows have been made about aspects of it. The question of why there and why then is so interesting though.
I think one factor you have not highlighted is that due to proximity of Italy & Florence to Arab & Indian trade, there was new knowledge that came into Europe through Italy especially Indian Mathematics. That was a foundation of everything from banking, science, art etc. Also, I think it's not a coincidence that all the major European powers of that time were geographically close to the trade with Middle East & India, namely Italy, Spain & Portugal (later two whose power was evident in colonization although Italy focused more on progress at home in arts & science instead of colonization & invasions abroad)
Fibonacci popularized the Indo–Arabic numeral system in the Western world primarily through his composition in 1202 of Liber Abaci (Book of Calculation)
In the Liber Abaci (1202), Fibonacci introduced the so-called modus Indorum (method of the Indians), today known as the Hindu–Arabic numeral system,[24][25] with ten digits including a zero and positional notation. The book showed the practical use and value of this by applying the numerals to commercial bookkeeping, converting weights and measures, calculation of interest, money-changing, and other applications. The book was well-received throughout educated Europe and had a profound influence on European thought. Replacing Roman numerals, its ancient Egyptian multiplication method, and using an abacus for calculations, was an advance in making business calculations easier and faster, which assisted the growth of banking and accounting in Europe.
Although Fibonacci's Liber Abaci contains the earliest known description of the sequence outside of India, the sequence had been described by Indian mathematicians as early as the sixth century.
That makes sense. Yes, indeed, the Indian influence via Muslims makes sense.
Just a note on the smaller aspect you mention about other European powers, which I disagree with: From 1000 to 1500, the other big and growing area of wealth was Northern Europe, with its Hanseatic League, Flanders, and the Rhine as the main ones (all far from the Middle East).
Spain and Portugal really start growing as alternatives to the Mediterranean, actually, as the Ottomans close the Silk Road to Christians when they take Constantinople (1453), and the Portuguese and Spanish find alternative routes
Thanks. The larger point is that in the dark ages, lot of ancient knowledge was lost in Europe. Books were not being printed. Some of the old knowledge from Greece, Rome & Egypt was preserved in the Arab world. But, scientific and mathematical advances were continuing in India and Middle East and then before / during renaissance knowledge transfer started coming into Europe through Italy.
This was a fun history of Florence! I’m curious what you think of Ada Palmer’s “Inventing the Renaissance” if you know of it? She asserts that historians invented the renaissance in hindsight, and that at the time it wasn’t any more golden than other eras or locations. Afterward medieval architecture was destroyed as Florence preserved theirs and created the narrative. Fascinating!
She is more of an expert than I have so maybe you’re right.
It’s surprising though. Just the dome speaks for itself I think. And the concentration of names we know 600 years later sounds like something quite unique.
I'm here for the Ninja Turtles reference😀 Also, looking at the guild shields, the Tanners and Shoemakers look related which makes sense but there's likely an article in the similarity between the Judges and the Innkeepers
Tomas, thank you for your post! The research and scholarship are impressive and I learned a lot. I've visited most of the cities you reference, and now I want to revisit with your insights in hand. Cheers!
I sit on the Board of Friends of Florence, a charity that restores the great art treasures of Tuscany and helps maintain some of these precious skills that are dying out. Past projects include Michelangelo’s David, and Botticelli’s Venus, as well as many other diverse restorations. If you are interested in learning more please contact me.
Former art history student. You brought this alive and provided so much context in a way that never happened in my university studies. I really love your research and the way you pull everything together so we have a big picture. The context IS the story. Thank you. I finally became a paid subscriber because I want you to continue this fabulous work.
I have been enjoying your series on architecture - thanks for the insights. You had asked for sources on wool - which is a fascinating topic. I’ve referenced The Rest is History before - and not to sound like a shill but they now finally have a searchable archive. Put in wool in the search. The episodes on the 100 years war, smuggling and of course the Industrial Revolution are hotspots for wool rich information. Each episode in Apple also has a transcript and bibliography. Hope this is helpful. https://archive.therestishistory.com/recommend
An insightful dive into the ever flowing history of culture wars. The posturing, with architecture as the medium, of one area trying to outdo the other certainly reflects on the present day culture wars. As Andrew Breitbart has stated.
I love that you’ve written this. I actually wrote a very similar piece for my family ahead of traveling there last year, so no one has ever seen it. (Literally, just 20 people or so). It has some slightly different emphases (commercial revolution, positive impact of some instability, need for the money makers to wash away their usurious sins, etc.), I missed the geographic factor, and I never really finished it, but it’s similar in other ways. Loved reading yours. would be curious your thoughts: https://ianrtemple.substack.com/p/the-rise-and-fall-of-florence
Just had a read. Really cool!
Nice! Thank you for checking it out! I just re-read it to see how it compares to Tomas' version. His is certainly tighter, but I feel like mine holds up and tells a bit more of the narrative.
When I was working on this for my family, I remember being like... how come no one else seems to have published a piece on this? It seems like a really interesting historical question. Glad that Tomas has changed that.
Yours definitely has more of the story on the ground. Seems ripe for a dozen different Netflix series, hey? Although I'm sure lots of films/ TV shows have been made about aspects of it. The question of why there and why then is so interesting though.
Will try to get a read, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the synthesis of a lot of information and history.
I think one factor you have not highlighted is that due to proximity of Italy & Florence to Arab & Indian trade, there was new knowledge that came into Europe through Italy especially Indian Mathematics. That was a foundation of everything from banking, science, art etc. Also, I think it's not a coincidence that all the major European powers of that time were geographically close to the trade with Middle East & India, namely Italy, Spain & Portugal (later two whose power was evident in colonization although Italy focused more on progress at home in arts & science instead of colonization & invasions abroad)
One foundational figure you mentioned was https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci
Fibonacci popularized the Indo–Arabic numeral system in the Western world primarily through his composition in 1202 of Liber Abaci (Book of Calculation)
In the Liber Abaci (1202), Fibonacci introduced the so-called modus Indorum (method of the Indians), today known as the Hindu–Arabic numeral system,[24][25] with ten digits including a zero and positional notation. The book showed the practical use and value of this by applying the numerals to commercial bookkeeping, converting weights and measures, calculation of interest, money-changing, and other applications. The book was well-received throughout educated Europe and had a profound influence on European thought. Replacing Roman numerals, its ancient Egyptian multiplication method, and using an abacus for calculations, was an advance in making business calculations easier and faster, which assisted the growth of banking and accounting in Europe.
Although Fibonacci's Liber Abaci contains the earliest known description of the sequence outside of India, the sequence had been described by Indian mathematicians as early as the sixth century.
That makes sense. Yes, indeed, the Indian influence via Muslims makes sense.
Just a note on the smaller aspect you mention about other European powers, which I disagree with: From 1000 to 1500, the other big and growing area of wealth was Northern Europe, with its Hanseatic League, Flanders, and the Rhine as the main ones (all far from the Middle East).
Spain and Portugal really start growing as alternatives to the Mediterranean, actually, as the Ottomans close the Silk Road to Christians when they take Constantinople (1453), and the Portuguese and Spanish find alternative routes
Thanks. The larger point is that in the dark ages, lot of ancient knowledge was lost in Europe. Books were not being printed. Some of the old knowledge from Greece, Rome & Egypt was preserved in the Arab world. But, scientific and mathematical advances were continuing in India and Middle East and then before / during renaissance knowledge transfer started coming into Europe through Italy.
This was a fun history of Florence! I’m curious what you think of Ada Palmer’s “Inventing the Renaissance” if you know of it? She asserts that historians invented the renaissance in hindsight, and that at the time it wasn’t any more golden than other eras or locations. Afterward medieval architecture was destroyed as Florence preserved theirs and created the narrative. Fascinating!
She is more of an expert than I have so maybe you’re right.
It’s surprising though. Just the dome speaks for itself I think. And the concentration of names we know 600 years later sounds like something quite unique.
Excellent write up, Tomas. As usual!
I'm here for the Ninja Turtles reference😀 Also, looking at the guild shields, the Tanners and Shoemakers look related which makes sense but there's likely an article in the similarity between the Judges and the Innkeepers
Tomas, thank you for your post! The research and scholarship are impressive and I learned a lot. I've visited most of the cities you reference, and now I want to revisit with your insights in hand. Cheers!
I sit on the Board of Friends of Florence, a charity that restores the great art treasures of Tuscany and helps maintain some of these precious skills that are dying out. Past projects include Michelangelo’s David, and Botticelli’s Venus, as well as many other diverse restorations. If you are interested in learning more please contact me.
I live near Florence and still learnt some interesting factoids from this. Great article.
Great article. Thank you Tomas :)
Former art history student. You brought this alive and provided so much context in a way that never happened in my university studies. I really love your research and the way you pull everything together so we have a big picture. The context IS the story. Thank you. I finally became a paid subscriber because I want you to continue this fabulous work.
Amazing!
I have been enjoying your series on architecture - thanks for the insights. You had asked for sources on wool - which is a fascinating topic. I’ve referenced The Rest is History before - and not to sound like a shill but they now finally have a searchable archive. Put in wool in the search. The episodes on the 100 years war, smuggling and of course the Industrial Revolution are hotspots for wool rich information. Each episode in Apple also has a transcript and bibliography. Hope this is helpful. https://archive.therestishistory.com/recommend
An insightful dive into the ever flowing history of culture wars. The posturing, with architecture as the medium, of one area trying to outdo the other certainly reflects on the present day culture wars. As Andrew Breitbart has stated.
“politics is downstream from culture “
This clearly shows how money, location, and ideas helped Florence become such an important place for new thinking
A well-timed article, as I am in Florence right now.
A great contribution! Thanks.
GREAT STUFF AGAIN.
Someone who understands it is all about CONNEXIONS.