In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the city of Florence experienced the most creative period in her entire history. This book is an in-depth analysis of that dynamic community, focusing primarily on the years 1380-1450 in an examination of the city's physical character, its economic and social structure and developments, its political and religious life, and its cultural achievement. For this edition, Mr. Brucker has added Notes on Florentine Scholarship and a Bibliographical Supplement.

List of Maps and Illustrations

1. The Renaissance City
2. The Economy
3. The Patriciate
4. Politics
5. The Church and the Faith
6. Culture

Epilogue
Bibliography and Notes
Index

“There is no other book about Florence in this period which combines such a broad range of archival sources . . . with standard literary sources in such an original and effective way.”—American Historical Review

"Among the major strengths of this book, and there are many, is the fact that the author, while dividing the discussion into manageable compartments, refuses to be bound by them, and labors successfully throughout to show their interrelations. Moreover, to a greater extent than any other general work on a Renaissance city, this book uses unpublished material drawn from contemporary sources to develop and illustrate its points. The scholar, the student, and the elusive 'general reader' will find their interest and involvement quickening because of this frequent encounter with the raw material of history."—Social Science