Merchants and Financiers in Renaissance Italy and Northern Europe

Medici Family: A powerful Italian family of bankers and merchants whose members effectively ruled Florence for much of the 15th century and were leading patrons of the arts there.

Guilds: Medieval associations of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power.

Patronage: The support given by a patron (often financial). During the Renaissance, this was often provided to artists, scholars, and writers.