Medici Money [Hardcover]

Tim Parks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 26, 2005

The Medici faced two apparently insuperable problems: how did a banker deal with the fact that the Church regarded interest as a sin and had made it illegal? How in a small republic like Florence could he avoid having his wealth taken away by taxation? But the bank became indispensable to the Church. And the family completely subverted Florence's claims to being democratic. They ran the city. To read this book is to understand how much the Renaissance has to tell us about our own world. Medici Money is one of the launch titles in a new series, Enterprise, edited by James Atlas. Enterprise pairs fine writers with stories of the economic forces that have shaped the world, in a new genre - the business book as literature.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tim Parks has lived in Italy from1981. His non-fiction works includes 'Italian Neighbours', 'An Italian Education' & 'A Season with Verona'. He is also the author of 11 novels.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Profile Business (May 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861977913
• ISBN-13: 978-1861977915
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,525,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating history of the founders of modern banking, October 17, 2011

By 

LD (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Medici Money (Paperback)

How did we get to today's banking crisis? Modern banking began with the Medici bank. Started in 1397 it established stand-alone branches in key European cities. The book will give you the details and explain how money was exchanged (today's checking and debit accounts). Like today's banks, the Medici got into politics. This is not a boring financial book. Its a soap opera over 5 generations. Lots of personal stories of intrigue.

By the time the bank went out of business in 1494, the family had managed to get 2 of their own elected as Pope and several daughters became wives of Europe's rulers, including the king of France (Catherine). And they had begun collecting artifacts and paintings for which they built display rooms to show off (today's museums). Pope Leo X tried to carry on the family tradition at the Vatican and caused a deficit so bad that the Church began selling Indulgences. And here comes Luther and the Reformation.

To read the details of that part of the story you need to read "White Robe, Black Robe" by Charles Mee. If you want to see photos of some of the decorative art collection of the family, look at "Treasures of the Medici" by Anna Massinelli. I have reviewed both of these books.