40.3 Lorenzo the Magnificent, Florence
Lorenzo il Magnifico, ruler of Florence 1469-1492. In the so-called Pazzi Conspiracy Pope Sixtus IV organises an assassination attempt on Lorenzo and his brother Giuliano. Lorenzo survives and goes on to help negotiate a peace treaty between the five great powers of Italy. For his influence and diplomatic skills he becomes known as 'the needle of the Italian compass'. Lorenzo also sponsored great artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo da Vinci. However, towards the end of his reign, the people of Florence grow increasingly resentful about economic disruptions and turn to the radical preacher Savonarola Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10 Nov 201719min
40.2 Renaissance Florence & Medici
Rise of the Medici dynasty in Florence. Renaissance Italy sees a remarkable flourishing of art and literature, with such writers as Dante, Bocaccio and Petrarch, the architects Brunelleschi and Michelozzo, and the artists Giotto and Pisano. Florence creates a republican system of government, although imperfect, democratic for its time. Cosimo de Medici, a skilled diplomat, rises to power in Florence and helps organise the Peace of Lodi, which brings a period of relative peace and stability to the Italian peninsulawww.historyeurope.netwww.patreon.com/historyeurope Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
4 Nov 201726min
39.3 Battle of Nancy 1477, Fall of Burgundy
The Burgundian Wars 1474-1477. Charles the Bold of Burgundy captures the Duchy of Lorraine. But he faces fierce resistance from his neighbours who form an alliance called the League of Constance, which includes several Swiss towns. The culmination of the wars is the Siege of Nancy 1476-77www.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29 Sep 201729min
39.2 Burgundy in the 1470's
Charles the Bold of Burgundy imposes his will on the citizens of Low Countries but, in so doing, creates resentment. Meanwhile, stoked by Louis XI of France, tensions rise between Charles and the Swisswww.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 Sep 201725min
39.1 Western Europe in late 1400's
Survey of Western European powers around 1460's, including England, France, Burgundy, Switzerland, Savoy, and the major antagonists; King Louis XI of France (pictured) and Duke Philip the Good of Burgundywww.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
15 Sep 201727min
38.2 The Hussite Wars 1419-1434
The Hussite Wars; a series of crusades in the Kingdom of Bohemia (Czech Republic) against religious dissidents, prepared to go to war to protect their religious freedoms against the Catholic Churchwww.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
18 Aug 201730min
38.1 Early History of Bohemia (Czech Republic)
Early History of Bohemia (approx modern day Czech Republic). The Golden Age of Prague (pictured) under Emperor Charles IV, and execution of Jan Hus for alleged heresy, which triggered the Hussite Wars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11 Aug 201728min
