A History Of Florence
The history of Florence, Italy is quite a rich one. Located in the center of Italy on the Arno River, it played an important role in the art and cultural revolution of the Italian Renaissance. Dominated by the ruling family of the Medici, the city produced several of the Renaissance’s most influential art masters, including Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo. Famed author Dante also hailed from the great city of Florence. During the Renaissance, Florence served as a center for industry, commerce and tourism. Arts and crafts were always important in the city, as it was, and still is, known for its glassware, ceramics, clothing and visual art pieces. The history of Florence begins with an Etruscan settlement. Florence became a town under the rule of the Roman Empire, and it continued to grow up until the thirteenth century. During that time, Florence was wrought with civil and outside wars. Triumphing over most of its attackers, Florence grew rapidly by acquiring many neighboring regions until 1348 when the Black Plague killed more than half of the city’s population. In the 1400’s, the famed Medici family began its rule, and they brought the city into period of cultural, intellectual and artistic