{"id":2507,"date":"2018-08-24T21:10:43","date_gmt":"2018-08-24T21:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/?p=2507"},"modified":"2026-03-16T09:48:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T09:48:18","slug":"milan-in-the-renaissance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/milan-in-the-renaissance\/","title":{"rendered":"Milan in the Renaissance: A Detailed Summary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Milan in the Renaissance was a major Renaissance city-state<\/a> known for its military power, political influence, and artistic achievements. Under the rule of the Sforza family, the city became a center for architecture, engineering, and the arts. For instance, this attracted artistic greats such as Leonardo da Vinci<\/a> to Milan. Finally, Milan\u2019s wealth and strategic location helped it play a key role in spreading of Renaissance ideas<\/a> across the Italian Peninsula and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

WHAT WAS THE RENAISSANCE?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Renaissance<\/a>\u00a0is an important event in European history that stretched from the 14th century to the 17th century.\u00a0 It was preceded by the\u00a0Middle Ages<\/a>\u00a0in Europe and eventually led to other major events such as the\u00a0Age of Enlightenment<\/a>.\u00a0 In historical terms the Renaissance is important because it led to a major shift in European thought and worldview.\u00a0 The Renaissance is considered to have begun in the\u00a0city-states of the Italian peninsula<\/a>, such as:\u00a0Genoa<\/a>, Florence<\/a>,\u00a0Milan,\u00a0Naples<\/a>,\u00a0Rome<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Venice<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In each of these city-states, the significant changes of the overall Renaissance occurred and unfolded.\u00a0 For example, the most significant changes that emerged as a result of the Renaissance can be seen in European architecture, art, literature, mathematics, music, philosophy, politics, religion and science.\u00a0 Intellectual thought in these fields flourished during the timeframe of the Renaissance and led to many people questioning long held beliefs about each.\u00a0 This created an environment of discovery and curiosity in which new ideas were constantly being introduced and tested.\u00a0 As well, European life before the start of the Renaissance<\/a> was dominated by\u00a0feudalism<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Manor System<\/a>, but these both played small roles for citizens in the powerful Italian city-states.\u00a0 As such, the major Italian city-states listed above were well positioned to undergo the societal shift brought about by the new Renaissance ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Renaissance
Renaissance City-States Map by History Crunch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

MILAN BEFORE THE RENAISSANCE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Milan is one of the most significant city-states from the Renaissance in Italy and developed in the northern section of the Italian peninsula near the Alps Mountains.  The city of Milan is located in the Po Valley, with the Po River to south and the foothills of the Alps Mountains to the north.  Also to the north of Milan are several lakes that rest at the foothills of the Alps, including: Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Lugano. Historians believe that people had been living in the region since the sixth century BCE but it became a much more significant area in the timeframe of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of its ancient history, the city of Milan was an important center in the timeframe of the\u00a0Roman Empire<\/a>.\u00a0 For example, it was from Milan that Roman Emperor\u00a0Constantine<\/a>\u00a0issued the Edict of Milan in 313 CE.\u00a0 This was an important event not only for the Roman Empire but also for\u00a0Christianity<\/a>\u00a0as a religion.\u00a0 The edict essentially granted tolerance to all religions within the Roman Empire.\u00a0 This helped Christianity establish itself and become the dominant religion in not only the Roman Empire but also eventually across the rest of Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around the time of fall of the Roman Empire<\/a> in the 5th century CE, the city of Milan experienced a series of invasions from outside forces.\u00a0 Over the course of the 5th and 6th centuries it was conquered and heavily besieged several times.\u00a0 As a result, throughout much of the Early Middle Ages, Milan was controlled by different groups from within northern Europe.\u00a0 For example, Milan surrendered to Charlemagne and the Franks in 774 CE.\u00a0 However, the 11th century on the Italian peninsula saw many different powerful city-states begin to develop.\u00a0 These were self-governing centers that prospered due to the economy and trade of the time.\u00a0 Due to its northern location and connection to other European regions, Milan was an excellent center for trade.\u00a0 Because of its growth, Milan came into constant conflict with surrounding towns and cities including other powerful city-states of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Constantine\"
Marble portrait head of the Emperor Constantine I (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

MILAN IN THE RENAISSANCE – EARLY HISTORY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A significant event in the history of Milan was when the Visconti ousted the Della Torre from power.\u00a0 The Della Torre were a wealthy noble family who had ruled over Milan in the High Middle Ages.\u00a0 However, in 1277 CE, after a drawn out conflict, the Della Torre were defeated by another noble family \u2013 the Visconti.\u00a0 As a result, the Visconti took over control of Milan and ruled over the city-state until the 15th century.\u00a0 In 1447 CE the death of Filippo Maria Visconti,\u00a0who was the Duke of Milan, caused the end of the reign of Visconti and led to a fundamental change in Milan.\u00a0 For instance, following the death of Filippo Maria Visconti, different factions within Milan worked to establish the Ambrosian Republic.\u00a0 A republic was a common form of government throughout the influential Renaissance city-states of the Italian peninsula.\u00a0 Traditionally, a republic is a form of government<\/a> in which the people of the state have a great deal more power and influence than they previously did under an absolute monarchy<\/a>, which was the common form of government in Middle Ages Europe.\u00a0 However, the influence of the Ambrosian Republic was short-lived as it was overthrown in 1450 CE by\u00a0Francesco Sforza.\u00a0 The Sforza family was a noble family based out of Milan who had gained influence in the city-state through their roles and leadership as military leaders.\u00a0 The Sforza and their time as the leaders of Milan is important, because under their leadership the city-state became one of the main centers in the Italian Renaissance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Milan
Portrait of Francesco Sforza by Bonifacio Bembo from 1460.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

MILAN IN THE RENAISSANCE – SFORZA FAMILY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Sforza rule over Milan occurred from 1450 to 1519 and was the city-state\u2019s height during the Renaissance. During this time, the city prospered economically specifically in both silk and wool trade.\u00a0 Due to its geographic location in northern Italy, it was able to control large portions of overland trade that occurred in the surrounding region.\u00a0 This economic growth allowed the Sforza family to oversee Milan\u2019s growth artistically as well.\u00a0 For instance, Milan today is famous for several prominent buildings due to the architecture that emerged during the time of the Renaissance.\u00a0 More specifically, the Sforza family oversaw the construction of the following in the 15th century: Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle) and Santa Maria delle Grazie (\u2018Holy Mary of Grace\u2019 Church).\u00a0 Both are significant examples of Renaissance architecture, but the Santa Maria delle Grazie is particularly important due to its connection to\u00a0Renaissance Art.\u00a0 While Milan is not necessarily known for its role in Renaissance Art, the Sforza family was closely linked with the\u00a0Medici\u00a0family of\u00a0Florence\u00a0and this connection led to the Sforza commissioning famous Renaissance artist\u00a0Leonardo da Vinci<\/a>.\u00a0 For example, da Vinci supposedly offered his services to the Sforza as an inventor to help them design and used different types of inventions for the battlefield.\u00a0 However, his connection to Milan is best exemplified by the famous painting \u2018The Last Supper\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Leonardo
Leonardo da Vinci<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

MILAN IN THE RENAISSANCE – RENAISSANCE ART<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Last Supper is one of the most famous paintings of the entire Renaissance time period.\u00a0 It was supposedly painted by da Vinci in the 1490s and is currently housed in the Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.\u00a0 The painting was commissioned by\u00a0Ludovico Sforza who was the Duke of Milan at the time.\u00a0 It depicts the last meal of\u00a0Jesus Christ<\/a>\u00a0and his apostles as told in the Gospel of John from the\u00a0Holy Bible<\/a>.\u00a0 The Last Supper is significant as a piece of Renaissance art because it highlights da Vinci\u2019s genius at the time, especially in his use of linear perspective to achieve realism.\u00a0 The Sforza family hired da Vinci to complete the work based on the recommendation of the Medici in Florence<\/a>.\u00a0 At the time the Sforza were establishing Santa Maria delle Grazie as their family mausoleum (family tomb), and they wanted da Vinci\u2019s The Last Supper to be the centerpiece of the mausoleum.\u00a0 Today, it remains a major piece in Milan\u2019s Renaissance art history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Renaissance
‘The Last Supper’ by Leonardo da Vinci. (1495 to 1498) Leonardo da Vinci is often considered to be the best example of a ‘Renaissance Man’ because he was talented in many fields, including: art, science, inventions and sculpting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Milan in the Renaissance was one of the major city-states located on the Italian Peninsula. This article, details the history and importance of the city-state of Milan in the Renaissance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":44,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[15,82],"class_list":["post-2507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-renaissance","tag-history","tag-renaissance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2507"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6592,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2507\/revisions\/6592"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}