...The Medici Family and Medici Bank in 14th century The Medici had an inestimable impact and effect upon Florence and the surrounding Italian peoples however this effect was not always positive or beneficial.[] The Medici, through carefully planned moves and states craft and at other times direct violence, worked tirelessly to remove Florence from its republican framework and replace it with a principality of their own. Indeed, by 1537 Florence was no longer a republic and named a duke to lead it now that it had become a principality, that duke was Duke Cosimo De’ Medici I. The move away from republicanism and towards this principality began with three generations of Medici; Cosimo, Piero, and Lorenzo De’ Medici. Their changes undermined a carefully laid constitution that was intended to keep one or more factions from gaining too much control over the city or for a single person to gain the sole leadership of the republic. However the Medici were able to slowly chisel away those devises of freedom and turn them into instruments of power. In order to fully understand the extent of the Medicean efforts it is important to observe the highlights of the complex system of government that the framers used. The Florentines in the thirteenth century developed a constitution that determined how the republic should be operated. The Florentine constitution was not a single document but rather a series of laws passed as the Ordinances of Justice in 1293 C.E. By this constitution...
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...principles involved, the effect of the errors and changes on financial statements, and the affect on the stockholders. The PCAOB (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) has penalized Ernst & Young $2 million for violating audit firm PCAOB’s rules. Ernst & Young (audit firm) failed to properly evaluate how Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (company) was calculating its reserve for sales returns. Financial Restatement Summary Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. had to restate more than three years worth of financial statements in 2008 (Censuring E&Y, PCAOB Hits Firm's Lack of Skepticism). According to an inspection by PCAOB of Ernst & Young (audit firm) they found that there was an inaccurate interpretation of FAS 48, "Revenue Recognition When Right of Return Exists." Medicis was using an exemption to that rule for expired or soon-to-expire products that customers had returned to its distributor, but it did not apply to resellers or distributors (in this case) since the returned products were not sellable. This exemption can only be used if the product being exchanged is of the same kind and quality, the company was not supposed to consider the two products (soon to expire & customer returns) the same for calculating this reserve. The article also stated that Medicis was reserving for most of its estimated product returns at the cost of replacing the product rather than at the gross sales price of the product, which also caused a material effect on Medicis’s revenue...
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...presented in his masterpiece because of the considerable traveling and engagements with various world leaders his fourteen year career span as a diplomat. His many positions held, such as Secretary to the Second Chancery of the Signoria and assistant to Soderini who was elected chief magistrate of the Republic, allowed him to acquire wealth and govern regions. He lost his post as the Secretary of the Second Chancery when the Medici family was reinstated back to power after Spain overthrew the Florentine government. He was accused of plotting to overthrow the Medici government and was incarcerated and tormented. Upon his release after his innocence was favorably proven, he moved to a farm near San Casciano where his boredom allotted him time to write “The Prince.” “The Prince” has been portrayed by analyzers and supporters as one of the most vivid pieces of political theorization published centuries ago and is believed to have influenced the actions of controversial political leaders from Hitler to Saddam Hussein. It was written for Lorenzo de’ Medici, the political figurehead at the time. During that time, Italy and other countries were not unified and divided by wars and political turmoil. Europe was also undergoing their Renaissance, so everything was to be questioned and not accepted as the...
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...Leonardo Da Vinci was born on April 14, 1452 in the town of Vinci near Florence Italy. He kept the name of his town for his last name. He lived during the fifteenth century, a period when the people of Europe were becoming interested in art. This period of time was known as the Renaissance period. Leonardo Da Vinci was very talented. He was a great artist, but he became famous because he was able to do so many other things. He was an architect, a musician, inventor, sculptor, scientist, and mathematician. His artistic talent revealed its self early in his life. When he was about 15 years old Leonardo's father took him to Florence Italy, to train as a painter and sculptor in the studio of Andrea del Verroccho. He studied with this master until the age of twenty five. At this point, he set up his own business and was famous for being a painter and a man of science. As a scientist, he observed everything he could in nature. Leonardo used what he learned from nature and science to make his paintings look real. He drew and took many notes of what he observed. His notes were written backwards, probably because he didn't want people to read about his discoveries and observations. In order to read Leonardo's notes, one has to hold them up to a mirror. In 1472 he entered a painters' guild. His earliest extensive works date back to this time. In 1482 Da Vinci worked for Duke Lodovico Sforza in Milan for 18 years. He fulfilled the position as court artist, but also worked as an engineer...
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...The Renaissance was the period from 1350-1600. The Renaissance began first in the city-states of Italy for many reasons. Although most of Europe had become a big economic crisis during the late Middle Ages, Italy managed to avoid everything and their towns remained important centers of Mediterranean trade and boost their production of textiles and luxury goods. Town life was bigger in Italy than in other parts of Europe. Therefore, most Italians could easily discard feudalism and other medieval institutions. Because Italy was wealthy and successful, they became independent city-states, each of which included a walled urban center and the surrounding countryside. The Italian city-states started a new social order. It was that wealth and ability mattered more than aristocratic titles and ownership of land. Wealthy merchants and bankers replaced the nobles in the upper class. Shopkeepers and artisans ranked below the wealthy merchants, forming a moderately prosperous middle class that employed a lot of poor workers. Most of these workers came from the countryside. And at the very bottom of the social ladder, were the peasants who worked on the country estates for the wealthy classes. During the Renaissance, Italy was not under one government, but was divided into the city-states. Each of these were ruled by wealthy families whose fortunes came from commercial trading or banking. A lot of times, workers rebelled against the upper classes. Their demands for equal rights and...
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...the Roman Catholic Church. Known for ending the Western Schism, by accepting the resignation and electing the Pop Martin V. Medici Family “Protestant Wind” was a famous renaissance patron family a well known member was Pope Leo X. They were well known for the interest in visual arts, philosophy, and learning. Cosimo de’ Medici promoted more classical learning through founding and funding. Protestant reformation had many major causes such as political, economic, social and religious background. Social and economic causes: advances in technology and the ways the church was collecting revenue. Problems involving with the church were the authority and a monks violence views driven by anger towards the church. Political causes were distractions from foreign affairs, higher up having marriage problems, and more challenges to authority. The pope struggled to provide spiritual leadership to the people. People’s faith was drastically weakened during this time with no guidance. The pope was living more like a king than a spiritual leader, letting people start to give up their hope in the Catholic faith. On thing after another, the Pope had to start selling indulgences to get money for the church. At the time, Princes were very tired of having to give money into a church that people were losing faith in. Protestant reformation I think was a Avalanche effect it was one thing after another went towards the cause. Specifically diseases were a big factor as well putting others in the...
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...Leonardo Da Vinci was born on April 14, 1452 in the town of Vinci near Florence Italy. He kept the name of his town for his last name. He lived during the fifteenth century, a period when the people of Europe were becoming interested in art. This period of time was known as the Renaissance period. Leonardo Da Vinci was very talented. He was a great artist, but he became famous because he was able to do so many other things. He was an architect, a musician, inventor, sculptor, scientist, and mathematician. His artistic talent revealed its self early in his life. When he was about 15 years old Leonardo's father took him to Florence Italy, to train as a painter and sculptor in the studio of Andrea del Verroccho. He studied with this master until the age of twenty five. At this point, he set up his own business and was famous for being a painter and a man of science. As a scientist, he observed everything he could in nature. Leonardo used what he learned from nature and science to make his paintings look real. He drew and took many notes of what he observed. His notes were written backwards, probably because he didn't want people to read about his discoveries and observations. In order to read Leonardo's notes, one has to hold them up to a mirror. In 1472 he entered a painters' guild. His earliest extensive works date back to this time. In 1482 Da Vinci worked for Duke Lodovico Sforza in Milan for 18 years. He fulfilled the position as court artist, but also worked as an engineer...
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...Technology in the Renaissance and Early Modern Period I. Science and Technology in the Renaissance - Texts and works that were lost at one point were now refound - European scholars were now studying those texts that got translated into Arabic during the dark ages - The works of Plato etc become popular, not so much Aristotle anymore - “rebirth”; interest in newly recovered classical texts – humanists - travel, adventure and navigation - increased use of military technology results requires lots of money: increased taxation, wealth - leads to formation of new nation-states that can afford to engage in such enterprises (i.e. France emerges as state in 15th century) - costs associated with producing technologies (i.e. gunpowder), building and maintaining armies - many texts recovered after fall of Constantinople to Turkish army in 1453; transferred to Italy and retranslated - Catholic church challenged with Protestant Reformation; increased role of patronage and royal courts - Higher status for role of engineer - change in values: knowledge for wealth, power and status over standard theological considerations and attaining salvation turning point in the story of technology - changes in attitudes toward natural philosophy and technical arts, and change in relationship between science and technology - natural philosophers: justify search for knowledge on utilitarian and not just theological reasoning; this...
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...precious metal as the de facto ex change value when they traded among themselves. Some of the ancient civilisation include but not limited to the Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Chinese , Indian and Muslim. Usually house of worships or palaces were used as the repository for the ancient people to keep their extra wealth. These repository also provide ‘loan’ such as grain seed for farmers to plant and usually need to repay back with interest after the subsequent harvest season. Mediaeval Europe also saw the proliferation of banking system or banks. Country like Italy, in her rich cities such as Genoa, Venice and Florence, seen wealthy merchants set up ‘banks’ to facilitate its vibrant trading activities. Such bank included Medici Bank, established by Giovani Medici in 1397. The oldest bank in Italy, Monte Dei Paschi de Siena still operating with headquarter in Siena, Italy and it was formed way back in 1472. The emergence of modern banking system can be traced back to the 17th century of England. This is including what we always been told ie ‘fractional banking system’. During the 17th century, wealthy merchants will keep their precious metal such as gold and silver with their locksmith which having vaults for these metal. The locksmiths will issue receipts certifying the quantity and purity of the metals. The receipts cannot be assigned, meaning the actual owner can only redeem the metals. As time goes by, the locksmiths allowed the receipts to be redeemed by third part...
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...Niccoló Machiavelli Asha Chang The University of the West Indies Niccolo Machiavelli From the centuries of the Dark Ages to the time of St. Tomas Aquinas’ birth, marked a time of steady increase in thought and knowledge. A man would come after however, adding new knowledge by taking a different approach from his fore runners, about the state and governance. Some would refer to his work as promoting the evil nature of man, which happen to be persons who have never read his work; while others believe that he only gives evidence to his heightened intellect and reveals the true nature of human-kind. This man was known as Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy to a relatively well of family in 1469 and died in 1527 A.D. He was born at the time when Europe was blossoming with the Renaissance (rebirth of knowledge/learning). He is known as the Man of Age and Reason. He was born in an era that discovered and explored the World of Classical Greece and Rome; on the one hand and embraced the scientific and technological innovations of the emerging capitalist class and of Arab scientists and technologists. After the 14th century the writings and thoughts began to move in the direction to rationalism/secular beliefs and by the 15th century the Renaissance was born like a little baby growing with Classical Humanism by which knowledge broke with faith and claimed superiority over it. “The Renaissance goes beyond the moral selfhood of Stoicism, the spiritual uniqueness...
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...and Legrenzi. The production at Rome of his opera Gli Equivoci nell sembiante (1679) gained him the support of Queen Christina of Sweden (who at the time was living in Rome), and he became her Maestro di Cappella. In February 1684 he became 'Maestro di Cappella to the viceroy of Naples, perhaps through the influence of his sister, an opera singer, who might have been the mistress of an influential Neapolitan noble. Here he produced a long series of operas, remarkable chiefly for their fluency and expressiveness, as well as other music for state occasions. In 1702 Scarlatti left Naples and did not return until the Spanish domination had been superseded by that of the Austrians. In the interval he enjoyed the patronage of Ferdinando de' Medici, for whose private theatre near Florence he composed operas, and of Cardinal Ottoboni, who made him his maestro di cappella, and procured him a similar post at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome in 1703. After visiting Venice and Urbino in 1707, Scarlatti took up his duties in Naples again in 1708, and remained there until 1717. By this time Naples seems to have become tired of his music; the Romans, however, appreciated it better, and it was at the Teatro Capranica in Rome that he produced some of his finest operas (Telemaco,...
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...FNAR 201 Renaissance through Modern SPRING 2013 STUDY GUIDE EXAM I EXAM I STUDY GUIDE Friday 15 February 2013 For this exam, you will be required to identify images and discuss their artistic and social significance and symbolism. You will have ten slides on the exam and five minutes per slide. Each question will be worth ten points. By identifying a slide, I am asking that you provide the artist, title, date and period. If the artist is unknown, you must note that on your exam by stating “unknown” or “anonymous.” I will choose the ten slides from the following list. Each image is listed by its illustration number in your textbook: 14-4 Giovanni Pisano, Annunciation, Nativity, and Adoration of the Shepherds, relief panel on the pulpit of Sant’Andrea, Pistoia, Italy, 1297–1301. Marble, 2 10 3 4 . The French Gothic style had a greater influence on Giovanni Pisano, Nicola’s son. Giovanni arranged his figures loosely and dynamically. They display a nervous agitation, as if moved by spiritual passion 14-8 Giotto (di Bondone), Madonna Enthroned, from the Church of Ognissanti, Florence, Italy, ca. 1310. Tempera and gold leaf on wood, 10 8 6 8 . Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence. Giotto displaced the Byzantine style in Italian painting and revived the naturalism of classical art. His figures have substance, dimensionality, and bulk and give the illusion that they could throw shadows 14-9- Giotto di Bondone, Lamentation, Arena Chapel (Cappella Scrovegni), Padua, Italy,...
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...Neil Adams Professor Cara Chang Humanities 300 07 September 2012 Exploring The Major Themes of Machiavelli's "The Prince" To find out what motivated Machiavelli to write “The Prince”, it is necessary to look at the Italy that he lived in at the time and where he gained his insights into governance. He grew up in a time where Popes had their own armies and went to war with Italian city-states in hopes of gaining more territory. Power held by the rulers was tumultuous at best; people and cities might fall at any time. The Popes weren’t the only forces that major cities such as Venice and Florence had to deal with. Foreign countries such as France, Spain, the Catholic Church, and Switzerland also were engaged in battles for control and influence in the region. Most of these major cities relied heavily upon mercenaries to help fight their battles. These Condottieri, or mercenary leaders, were very fickle and changed sides without warning which made political and military alliances very weak, which in turn made Italy as a whole weak ("Niccolò Machiavelli"). Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, was a founder of modern political science who lived in Florence during the Renaissance period. He was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. Niccolò was the first son and third child of attorney, Bernardo di Niccolò Machiavelli, and his wife, Bartolomea di Stefano Nelli. At a young age became a pupil of a renowned Latin teacher, Paolo da Ronciglione, where he was taught history...
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...Brand Management Over the past years, large groups of people have experienced an increase in their living standards. People have become wealthier and they posses a larger buying power. Nowadays, most consumers are more likely to choose branded products that are established over products of an unknown make. It is a norm that human beings tend to change their consumption patterns in different situations. In this case, they are better off now, than they were before, thanks to strong economic growth. Due to the current state of affairs, many businesses have employed skilled individuals, better known as brand managers, to anticipate this trend and in return, increase profits. Brand managers are people who formulate marketing plans for the product that they manage. However, these brand managers have come to realize that consumers are now demanding for products that focus on special values that enhance their loyalty towards that particular brand and its products. In other words, consumers are now demanding for products that are authentic. The term ‘authentic’ can be defined as conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief. Brands have always been commercial agents and brand managers take pride in their ability to meet the needs of their target market. However, these two desires are in conflict with the recent trend towards positioning brands as “authentic,” emphasizing the timeless values desired by consumers while downplaying apparent commercial motives....
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...NT1 The Prince: Machiavelli’s Methodology on Leadership Niccolo Machiavelli, the first modern thinker, dedicated The Prince to Lorenzo De Medici and the De Medici family as a “how to guide” on becoming a successful ruler and more importantly, how not to be a successful ruler. As in any philosopher’s works, there are many components that are comprised into one common theme. Machiavelli presents a strong methodology and main concept which is to act in your own self-interest if you want to become a leader, and to do so by any means necessary. In The Price, one of his most famous works, Machiavelli establishes his leadership guidelines on specific categories such as virtue, goodwill, hatred, and reputation, just to name a few. Machiavelli’s goal in The Prince is to distinguish why human nature is the leading cause of a princes’ ultimate success or failure. Machiavelli strongly feels that the idea of politics is not a natural, innate part of humankind. It is crucial for a prince to reflect on the actions of great men that came before him and the history surrounding them. Within the text, Machiavelli does not focus on unity nor does he focus on the virtuous soul. He strictly concentrates on consequences because they are facts which we can verify. Due to this belief, Machiavelli’s ideas represent the consequentialist approach to morality. Meaning, consequences are driven purely by an individual’s actions. Therefore, the means by which individuals go about taking those actions...
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