The Grand Duchy of Tuscany: The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici

From utterly obscure origins this family became the premier bankers and politicians of Florence. Stymied repeatedly by Florentine aspirations to political freedom, the Medici were eventually able to establish an authoritarian duchy over Tuscany. This lecture traces their rise to power, their role as artistic patrons, and finally the demise of the family and its fortunes. An 80-minute lecture.