The Medici Family

13th to 17th century

Power and Wealth

• The Medici family was an influential family from Florence

• The family produced three popes and members of French and English royalty

• Achieved power through banking

– ---------------

Medici family palace

Art and Architcture

• Giovanni di Bicci was the first Medici to enter banking and became the first patron of the arts

• Lorenzo the Magnificent was a patron of Michaelangelo

Notable Members of Medici Family

• Cosimo the Elder (1389-1464)-He was the founder of the Medici political dynasty

• Giovanni de Medici (1475-1523)-Pope Leo X

• Giulio de Medici (1478-1534)-Pope Clement VII

• Catherine de Medici (1519-1589)-Queen of France

• Alessandro Ottaviano de Medici (1535-1605)-Pope Leo XI

• Lorenzo de Medici (almost killed) Giuliano killed in Pazzi Conspiracy

• Catherine de Medici

Florentine Calendar

• Florentine calendar was used during the Middle Ages (the rest of Europe used the Julian calendar)

• The new day would begin at sunset• Ex. So if someone was born “3

hours into the day, then they were born 3 hours after sunset

• The new year began on March 25th

• This was not unusual• French year began on Easter• Venetian year began March 1st

• English year began March 25th

Gregorian Calendar• Gregorian Calendar was adopted in

1583• Several flaws with old calendars

• Julian Calendar exceeded the true solar year by 11 minutes and 14 seconds

• Great Britain did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752

• So on Wednesday, it was September 2nd, but on the next day, Thursday, it became September 14th

Modern Day Medici Family

• Your job is to pick a modern day family with at least three notable members

• The family can be famous in sports, politics, entertainment, etc.

• You need a picture of each person and a brief description of what they have done