The Medici: The Power of a Dynasty

by Fabrizio Ricciardelli

The Medici dynasty is one of the most famous in history. The story of the family was inextricably bound with Florence, the city of the Renaissance, and influenced its destiny from the time of Cosimo the Elder (1389-1464) up to the reign of Gian Gastone (1671-1737). It maintained a firm grasp of political and economic power while also fostering literature and the arts. This book tells the story of the Medici, offering a varied and fascinating portrait of this great dynasty, tracing its origins back to the Middle Ages and dwelling on its most famous exponents, by now emblematic figures in the collective imagination.

144 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2022

Reviews

[María Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primera vez que leo completito un libro de este estilo. Resume súper bien la historia de cada Medici pero además da todo el contexto de la época, para entender las decisiones que toman y por qué cambiaron la política y las artes.

[Jawahir the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Score:4/5

Got this recommended by a Florentine bookshop when I traveled to Italy. I love reading about the histories, cultures, and peoples of the cities I go to. Add that to the allure of The Medici, this was a perfect book to dip into.

It is written in a really accessible way, with each member having their own mini biography. The author does a fantastic job painting the political and economical settings surrounding each member and their rule; it helped outline the timeline without it being too directly boring.

Do I recommend? Yes, doesn't matter if you've been to Italy or not. The Medici contributed to many conventions present in today's modern society.

[Celso Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

O livro resume a evolução de Florença, que começa como uma cidade mediana do norte da Itália e se transforma em uma das mais pujantes da Europa, a partir da consolidação da dinastia dos Médici na sua liderança política, intelectual e artística. Um bom livro para quem queira ter um primeiro contato com o tema.

[cloudsinmykoffie · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.75. Very concise and introductory in nature, ideal for when you want to get a grasp of the bigger picture, but not much if any details on the individuals themselves. So you can maybe see which Medici you’re most interested in and go from there.

[Maria Ribeiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

they were such a family, pity men had to ruin everything

[Rafael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t expect a 100% full elaborated story about the Medici Family, this book has only 100 pages of text, but it was good for someone who is just getting into reading in italian and Italian History, me.