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Category:
history
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THE BYZANTINE AND LOMBARD PERIOD
The Barbarian invasions seriously impaired the importance of Florentia. In 405, the city managed to halt the hordes of Radagaisus, but later it could not avoid being involved in the disastrous Gotho- Byzantine war.
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THE CAROLINGIAN PERIOD
In the Carolingian Period, 8th century, a feudal system was installed and Florence became a county of the Holy Roman Empire.
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EARLY MIDDLE AGE
Around the middle of the 11th century the position of Florence in Tuscany became even more important because Lucca was no longer the seat of the marquisate and because of the city's decisive participation in the movement for the reform of the church.
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FLORENCE'S FOUNDATIONS
The foundation of Florence dates back to Roman times, despite evidence existing to show that Florence was already occupied in prehistoric times. The oldest part of the city bears the imprint of these Roman origins as it originated as one of Caesar's colonies.
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THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY
The speed with which the new walls were built is a sign of the prosperity that reigned in Florence
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GUELPHS AND GHIBELLINES
The period of peace which followed the installation of government under a podestà did not last long. 1216 saw the beginning of feuds which were to afflict Florentine society for the entire century, dividing the citizens between Guelphs and Ghibellines.
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THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY TO THE RENAISSANCE
Towards the end of the 13th century and in the early 14th century the contrasts between the popolo minuto-middle and lower middle classes- and the popolo grasso-wealthy merchants-were accentuated.
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THE RENAISSANCE
When power returned to the popolo grasso at the end of the 14th century, an oligarchic regime was established in Florence and a small restricted number of the merchant middle class governed the city for about 40 years.
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THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
Lorenzo the Magnificent knew how to impose his personal power without overthrowing the republican institutions.
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THE GREAT NAMES OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
Leonardo, although he had made his name in the Medici court, where the work the family commissioned was intended to bring glory to their name, carried out his initial artistic experiences in Florence
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THE DECLINE OF THE MEDICI
Ferdinando I (1587-1609) continued his father's policy and succeeded in strengthening the grand duchy, maintaining a difficult equilibrium between France and Spain.
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THE LORRAINE PERIOD
After the death of Grand Duke Gian Gastone, the last Medici, the important European countries in Vienna decided to give Tuscany to Francis I Duke of Lorraine, French-Austrian dynasty. He was succeeded by Peter Leopold I, Ferdinando II, Ferdinando III and finally by Leopoldo II.
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FLORENCE AS A CAPITAL CITY
In 1859 the Lorraines left Florence for good. Following that and after the Second War of Independence and after Tuscany joined the Savoy Reign of Unified Italy
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FLORENCE IN THE '900
Throughout this century, Florence has been suffering from a process of degradation. The old structure can no longer cope with the demands of modern urban life and has become the "problem" of a complex reality. Its meaning must be recuperated in a new context which never quite reaches an organic equilibrium to thus become a new and successful urban form.
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Versione Italiana
