The Rise and Fall of the Medici Bank. A Century-Long History of the Most Influential Dynasty in Europe

Members of the Medici family are widely known for their outstanding role in the Italian Renaissance. However, their activities as bankers and merchants are little studied. It was their economic power that allowed them to seize political power and monopolize business in Europe west of the Rhine. The extensive work of Raimondo de Rovere is based on rare archival documents. It is devoted to the Medici Bank — the most influential in Europe in the 15th century — and is extremely important for understanding the economy, politics, and social life of that time. It is also curious that the history of the Medici Bank resonates with today's world and enriches our understanding of the origins of modern business.