The Society of Renaissance Florence

by Brucker, Gene A.

• ISBN13: 9780802080790
• ISBN10: 0802080790
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-01-01
• Publisher: Univ of Toronto Pr

Summary

First published in 1971 by Harper & Row, The Society of Renaissance Florenceis an invaluable collection of 132 original Florentine documents dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and covering a wide range of subjects from taxes to social mobility, to family, death, and civic life, to violence, crime, and morality. Also included are seldom seen documents addressing the state of the poor and such groups as Jews, heretics, sorcerers, and homosexuals. 'I have made a conscious effort to select material which reveals something about the emotions, passions, and temperaments of Renaissance Florentines. 'These documents are examples of the raw material with which the historian works, as he attempts to describe social structures, patterns of behavior, and value systems. They should convey some sense of the complexity of this society, and of the formidable task which confronts the student who seeks to generalize about its character... They can serve as models for the student interested in the problems of urban history in pre-industrial Europe.' - From the Preface

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
PART ONE: THE ECONOMIC STRUCTURE	1	(27)
I. A PRIMITIVE TAX ASSESSMENT	4	(2)
1. The Levy of a Forced Loan, Quarter of S. Maria Novella, April 1378	4	(2)
II. THE Catasto OF 1427	6	(8)
2. The Declaration of Conte di Giovanni Compagni	6	(2)
3. The Declaration of Francesco di Messer Giovanni Milanese	8	(2)
4. The Declaration of Lorenzo Ghiberti, sculptor	10	(2)
5. The Declaration of Agnolo di Jacopo, weaver	12	(1)
6. The Declaration of Biagio di Niccolo, wool carder	13	(1)
III. ECONOMIC FORTUNE AND SOCIAL MOBILITY	14	(9)
7. The Mercantile Career of Paolo Morelli, d. 1374	14	(1)
8. The Fortunes of Gregorio Dati, d. 1435	15	(2)
9. From Laborer to Entrepreneur, 1399	17	(1)
10. Business Losses and Confiscatory Taxation, 1442	18	(3)
11. Misfortunes of a Political Exile, 1382	21	(1)
12. The Wreck of a Business Venture, 1408	22	(1)
IV. ATTITUDES TOWARD WEALTH	23	(5)
13. A Cautious Merchant, c. 1400	23	(1)
14. A Rich Patrician, c. 1460	24	(3)
15. Lorenzo de' Medici, the Magnificent	27	(1)
PART TWO: THE FAMILY	28	(46)
I. MARRIAGE	29	(13)
16. The Marriages of Gregorio Dati	29	(2)
17. Two Marriages in the Valori Family, 1452 and 1476	31	(1)
18. Marriage Negotiations: the Del Bene, 1381	32	(5)
19. Marriage Negotiations: the Strozzi, 1464-65	37	(3)
20. Illegitimacy and Marriage, 1355	40	(2)
II. DEATH	42	(7)
21. Deaths in the Sassetti Family, 1383	42	(2)
22. Deaths in the Panzano Family, 1423-46	44	(2)
23. A Pestilence Victim, 1374	46	(1)
24. The Death of a Son, 1459	47	(2)
III. PROPERTY AND INHERITANCE	49	(13)
25. The Testament of Fetto Ubertini, 1348	49	(3)
26. The Testament of Michele di Vanni Castellani, c. 1370	52	(4)
27. The Testament of Andrea di Feo, stonemason, 1380	56	(3)
28. Two Petitions for Legitimization, 1388-89	59	(1)
29. The Diminution of an Orphan's Estate, 1397	60	(2)
IV. FAMILY ENMITIES	62	(12)
30. Father and Son, 1380	62	(2)
31. Son and Father, 1405	64	(3)
32. Disputes Among Heirs, 1385	67	(2)
33. A Broken Marriage, 1377	69	(1)
34. The Murder of a Brother, 1393	70	(4)
PART THREE: COLLECTIVITIES	74	(21)
I. CORPORATIONS AND COMMUNITY	75	(6)
35. An Occasion of Solidarity	75	(3)
36. A Community in Disorder	78	(3)
II. THE COMMUNE	81	(3)
37. Civic Spirit	81	(1)
38. A Patriotic Appeal	82	(1)
39. The Dissolution of the Confraternities, 1419	83	(1)
III. THE PARTE GUELFA	84	(6)
40. A Guelf Association, c. 1350	84	(2)
41. Guelfs and Ghibellines, 1347	86	(2)
42. The Decline of the Parte Guelfa, 1413	88	(2)
IV. THE GUILDS	90	(5)
43. The Corporation of Wine Merchants	90	(2)
44. A Charitable Enterprise, 1421	92	(1)
45. Guild Rivalry, 1425	93	(2)
PART FOUR: VIOLENCE AND ITS CONTROL	95	(44)
I. PATTERNS OF VIOLENCE	97	(9)
46. A Soldier's Crimes, 1379	97	(1)
47. A Private Quarrel, 1396	98	(1)
48. The Exploits of a Highwayman, 1391	99	(2)
49. The Depredations of a Magnate, 1404	101	(3)
50. An Escapade in the Apennines, 1400	104	(2)
II. THE VENDETTA	106	(14)
51. The Medieval Inheritance	106	(5)
52. The Strozzi and the Lenzi, 1387-92	111	(5)
53. The Revenge of Luca da Panzano, 1420	116	(3)
54. The Decline of the Vendetta, 1420	119	(1)
III. Prepotenza	120	(10)
55. A Despoiler of Property, 1377	120	(2)
56. An Assault Upon a Peasant Family, 1381	122	(1)
57. The Terror of the Countryside, 1381	123	(2)
58. A Powerful Family: the Strozzi	125	(2)
59. A Career of Violence: Simone Guicciardini, c. 1395	127	(3)
IV. AUTHORITY AND ITS ABUSE	130	(9)
60. The Offenses of a Magistrate, 1382	130	(1)
61. The Maladministration of the Contado	131	(1)
62. An Official Reprimand, 1418	132	(1)
63. The Misdeeds of a Rector, 1461	133	(4)
64. The Abuse of Clerical Authority, 1415	137	(2)
PART FIVE: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT	139	(40)
I. CRIMES OF GRAVITY	140	(16)
65. Greed and Uxoricide	140	(2)
66. Passion and Uxoricide	142	(2)
67. Infanticide	146	(1)
68. Forgery and Homicide	147	(3)
69. Incest and Sacrilege	150	(3)
70. The Career of a Professional Criminal	153	(3)
II. CRIMES OF SUBTLETY	156	(10)
71. An Artful Swindler	156	(1)
72. The Alchemist	157	(2)
73. Extortion	159	(3)
74. A Forger	162	(4)
III. PRISON	166	(2)
75. Inmates of the Stinche	166	(2)
IV. DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY: INSANITY	168	(6)
76. A Demented Woman	168	(2)
77. A Plea of Insanity	170	(2)
78. A Sacrilegious Act	172	(2)
V. MERCY AND ITS RATIONALE	174	(5)
79. Religious Enthusiasm and the Release of Prisoners	174	(1)
80. The Plea of an Adulteress	175	(1)
81. The Excuse of Poverty	176	(1)
82. A Juvenile Delinquent	177	(2)
PART SIX: PUBLIC MORES	179	(34)
I. SUMPTUARY LEGISLATION	179	(4)
83. The Fiscal Rationale, 1373	179	(1)
84. The Social Rationale, 1433	180	(1)
85. Prosecutions and Penalties, 1378-97	181	(2)
II. GAMBLING	183	(7)
86. The Clientele	183	(3)
87. A Compulsive Gambler	186	(4)
III. PROSTITUTION	190	(11)
88. The Establishment of Communal Brothels, 1415	190	(1)
89. Profits of Prostitution	190	(1)
90. Prostitutes and the Courts, 1398-1400	191	(5)
91. The Recruitment of Prostitutes, 1379	196	(3)
92. A Panderer's Career	199	(2)
IV. SODOMY	201	(5)
93. Civic Opinion, 1415	201	(1)
94. Legislation Against the Vice, 1418	202	(1)
95. Establishment of a Magistracy to Extirpate Sodomy, 1432	203	(1)
96. Convictions and Penalties	204	(2)
V. THE SURVEILLANCE OF THE CONVENTS	206	(7)
97. Civic Responsibility for Conventual Purity	206	(1)
98. A Delinquent Priest	207	(1)
99. A Foreign Intruder	208	(1)
100. Temptation	209	(2)
101. A Penitent	211	(2)
PART SEVEN: THE Popolo Minuto	213	(27)
I. TRIBULATIONS OF THE POOR	214	(8)
102. Harassment of Workers in the Cloth Industry	214	(2)
103. An Imprisoned Pauper	216	(1)
104. A Marginal Subsistence	217	(1)
105. The Story of the Servant Girl Nencia	218	(4)
II. SERVITUDE	222	(7)
106. Slavery Legalized, 1364	222	(1)
107. The Search for Slaves	223	(1)
108. Christians Forced into Servitude	223	(1)
109. The Tribulations of a Slave Girl	224	(5)
III. SUCCOR FOR THE INDIGENT	229	(4)
110. Pensions for Retired Employees	229	(1)
111. Plague, Famine, and Civic Disorder	229	(2)
112. The Distribution of Alms	231	(2)
IV. VOICES OF THE POOR	233	(7)
113. Appeal for Tax Relief	233	(1)
114. Justice for the Poor	234	(1)
115. The Condemnation of a Labor Organizer, 1345	235	(1)
116. The Demands of the Ciompi, 1378	236	(4)
PART EIGHT: ABERRANTS AND OUTGROUPS	240	(35)
I. THE JEWS	240	(10)
117. Early Communal Legislation on the Jews	240	(1)
118. Regulation of the Jewish Community, 1463	241	(2)
119. The Condemnation of a Jewish Physician	243	(2)
120. The Transgressions of a Seditious Jew, 1434	245	(1)
121. Extortion and Betrayal, 1435	246	(2)
122. Anti-Semitism and the Commune, 1488-93	248	(2)
II. HERETICS	250	(10)
123. Legislation Against the Fraticelli, 1382	250	(2)
124. Fraticelli Sympathizers and the Inquisition, 1383	252	(1)
125. The Execution of Fra Michele of Calci, 1389	253	(4)
126. The Unorthodox Views of a Priest, 1418	257	(1)
127. The Prosecution of Giovanni Cani, 1450	258	(2)
III. SORCERERS	260	(15)
128. The Enchantress	260	(1)
129. The Professional Sorcerer	261	(5)
130. A Sorcerer Manque	266	(2)
131. A Sorcerer and His Clientele	268	(2)
132. A Witch's Career	270	(5)
Select Bibliography	275