Medieval and modern times; an introduction to the history of western Europe form the dissolution of the Roman empire to the present time . use of Medici was Lorenzo theMagnificent (d. 1402) ; under his rule Florence reached theheight of its glory in art and literature. As one wanders about Florence to-day, he is impressed withthe contradictions of the Renaissance period. The streets are Medieval Towns — their Business and Btrildings 229 lined with the palaces of the noble families to whose rivalriesmuch of the continual disturbance was due. The lower storiesof these build-ings are con-structed
Medieval and modern times; an introduction to the history of western Europe form the dissolution of the Roman empire to the present time . use of Medici was Lorenzo theMagnificent (d. 1402) ; under his rule Florence reached theheight of its glory in art and literature. As one wanders about Florence to-day, he is impressed withthe contradictions of the Renaissance period. The streets are Medieval Towns — their Business and Btrildings 229 lined with the palaces of the noble families to whose rivalriesmuch of the continual disturbance was due. The lower storiesof these build-ings are con-structed of greatstones, like for-tresses, andtheir windowsare barred likethose of a prison(Fig. 66); yetwithin they wereoften furnishedwith the great-est taste andluxury. For inspite of the dis-order, againstwhich the richprotected them-selves by mak-ing their houseshalf strongholds,the beautifulchurches, noblepublic build-ings, and worksof art whichnow fill the mu-seums indicatethat mankindhas never, per-haps, reached a higher degree of perfection in the arts of peace than amidstthe turmoil of this restless town (see below, section 52).. Fig. 66. The Palace of the Medici inFlorence This was erected about 1435 by Cosimo dei Medici,and in it Lorenzo the Magnificent conducted thegovernment of Florence and entertained the menof letters and artists with whom he liked best to as-sociate. It shows how fortresslike the lower por-tions of a Florentine palace were, in order to protectthe owner from attack 230 Medieval and Modem Times Rome, the During the same period in which Venice and Florence became papacy° ie leaders in wealth and refinement, Rome, the capital of the popes, likewise underwent agreat change. After thepopes returned fromtheir seventy years resi-dence in France andAvignon (see above,p. 199) they found thetown in a dilapidatedstate. For years theywere able to do little torestore it, as there wasa long period duringwhich the papacy wasweakened by the exist-ence of a rival lin
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