The Guilds and Merchant Class

Florence’s wealth came from the banking and textile industries, and the city was governed largely by the guilds—organizations of craftsmen and merchants who regulated trade, maintained quality, and controlled access to political power. The Arte della Lana (Wool Guild) and Arte di Calimala (cloth merchants) were among the most powerful.

If you were a visiting merchant or trader, you would engage with guild halls and representatives, negotiating deals that could span from Florence to Northern Europe and the Levant.

Religious Life

Religion permeated every aspect of Florentine life. The city was dotted with numerous churches, convents, and monasteries. Devotion was visible in public processions, feast days, and the ever-present influence of the clergy.

In 1380, Florence was still coping with the aftermath of the Black Death, which had devastated Europe a few decades earlier. Religious fervor and a sense of penitence remained strong. Many Florentines took part in charitable works, religious confraternities, and pilgrimages.

Art and Learning

Though the Renaissance was still nascent, Florence was beginning to foster new artistic ideas. The works of Giotto, who had died in 1337, had already revolutionized painting with his naturalism and depth. Sculptors like Andrea Pisano and painters like Taddeo Gaddi were active.

The city was also a center of learning. The Studium, or university, was small but influential, and humanist scholars were beginning to revive interest in classical texts. Manuscript copying and the study of Latin and Greek were gaining ground. shutdown123