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The History of Florence
This is a very "fast review" which
represent a general frame of Florence's history.
Florence was born as an "appendix" to the Etruscan
city "Fiesole" in 59 B.C.
Julius Caesar gave his soldiers the piece of land that leys
under the hills, divided by the river "Arno". The
perfect combination gave the city its name "florentia"-the
flowering.
After the fall of the Roman Empire in the year 460, Florence
as the entire half Italian island, absorbed the results of the
Barbarian's conquests. The tragedy of the post imperialistic
conquests didn't skip Florence and in 540, there were only 1000
citizen in the city.
From the 9th century, Florence starts gradually to grow from
the cultural, economical and commercial point of view.
The city's population has grown to 5000 people and it is necessary
to build a new wall.
In the first year of the first millennium, the "Baptistery"
of Giovanni Battista and the church of "San Miniato"
are built: these churches represent the base oh the architectural
and religious development in the city.
In 1078, after a war between the pope supporters (Guelfi) and
the caser supporters (Gibellini), Florence prefers the first
ones and as for a demographic growth, a new wall is being built
around the city at the request of the countess "Matilde
di Canossa".
After the death of the countess in the year 1115, Florence becomes
a free council.
The conquest of the neighbor city Fiesole (from which Florence
was born) gives the first imperialist ambition of the city and
in 300 years, Florence succeed in ruling all over Tuscany.
1172, a demographic growth to 40,000 people- occurs another
enlargement of the walls.
The commercial activity of the hand-crafts and the commerce
itself which in the future will make the name of Florence known
all over Europe are: treatment of silk and wool, Jewelry and
banking.
In 1252, was stamped the first Florentine coin- "florin".
This coin, thanks to the immense presence of Florentine banks
all over Europe, becomes very important in its era and the proof
of that we may see in the names of the Dutch and Hungarian coins,
even today.
Meanwhile, until 1260, the pope supporters succeed in conquering
the city.
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Until today, it is hard for us to understand how during that
period full of wars and conflicts inside and outside, Florence
have succeeded in becoming one of the cultural treasures of
Europe of that time.
The commercial, artistic, literature and political development
also gives its signs these days.
In that period, the wall is being enlarged for the last time
and holds 100,000 people. (It is important to remember that
Paris, Rome and London of that period held 40,000 people)
In 1348, the black epidemic doesn't skip Florence and kills
around two thirds of the population and symbolizes the beginning
of a very big crisis for the city.
This crisis hurts the city's economy but doesn't hurt the grate
artistic flowering.
It is enough reminding names as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo,
Gioberti, Brunelleschi and others.
In the 15th century the city is ruled by a famous family- the
Medici.
The father of the family - Cosimo il Vecchio (old Cosimo) that
came back from exile in Venice in the year 1434, was accepted
in Florence with cries "the father of the homeland"
and his grandchild "Lorenzo the Magnificent" brings
Florence to its peak in the European history.
This period may be the richest in the history of art and science
since the Roman period.
Until now, who walks around Florence is amazed by the project
paid by the man which succeeded in creating income for the city's
citizens 600 years after his death.
1494 - The Medici family is being driven out of Florence and
the city goes to the hands of the Augustinian monk "Savonarola".
It returns back to rule in 1530 and remain there until 1737.
The place of the Medici is taken by the Ostrich family "Lorena"
which rules the city until 1859 and in the year after, when
Florence joins the Italian United Kingdom, it becomes the capital
city until 1871 when the title goes back to Rome.
Today in Florence there are 470,000 citizens and it is living
mostly from tourism. In 1986 it was named "The capital
of arts of Italy".
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