The Orginal 'Godfathers'...

One thing I'd noticed from my 'googling' of the esteemed Medici family, is that they are well renowned as being the original 'Godfathers'. This interests me, as who isn't intrigued by the Mafia (Soprano's, Borgia's and Boardwalk Empire - Best shows ever!)? So I decided this week I would do a little probing into the 'Godfathers of the Renaissance.'

The first good site I found in relation to the 'Godfathers' Medici, was via Google on a very comprehensive Television site, PBS TV: http://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/ The site is dedicated to the series of Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance. Not only does the site have information about the maybe somewhat fictionalised version of the family stories, but also in dept history into the actual events.

It tells of the rise of a young son of a Merchant, Cosimo de' Medici in the 1300's who would go on to become the Godfather of a dynasty. It discusses the Medici's cultivation of artist's and thinkers who would begin the Renaissance era.

The Medici climbed their way to the top, not through goodness and money alone, but often through bribery, corruption and violence. They exploited a network of friends of friends to get into politics as well as the church, where their power was often 'bought' and 'bribed'.

Botticelli - The birth of Venus. An example of Renaissance art as cultivated by the Medici

I think it looks like a pretty decent series to understand the trials and travesties of the family, although not too much is mentioned in regards to their Libraries in Florence. It does have a resources page which gives access to a gallery of much of the beautiful renaissance artwork as well as links for teachers and a reading list.

Following on from this investigation, I thought it may be interesting to look for some video in relation to the great 'Godfather' family. Hopping over to YouTube I did a general search using the phrases 'Medici family Godfathers'. I received a lot of results for the show as above, but very few for documentaries on this exact topic, except for a tongue in cheek 'mocumentary' made by some tourists girls.

I did find the following interesting clip via History TV:

The clip is rather simple and alludes to the beginning of the glory that would be the Medici family triumphs, with the initiatives of Cosimo being the central storyline. I think it is a nice start to any-ones initial research into the Renaissances most powerful family.

I didn't feel it was too hard to find much information on the 'Godfather' aspect of the Medici, although trying to video footage, other than that of the PBS TV show, was a little trivial, though not overly difficult.

It is such an interesting story and I'm so glad that I decided to do my research project on this triumphant and equally treacherous family.

Bibliography

PBS 2004, Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance, PBS, 25 September 2012, http://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/.

PBS 2004, Boticelli : Birth of venus, PBS, 25 September 2012, PBShttp://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/gallery/bot_ven.html.

TheHistoryTV 2010, The Renaissance and the Medici, 15 March 2010, viewed 25 September 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsrRqsSM97U.