Lorenzo de' Medici's Letter
Which of these claims is supported by evidence in the
passage?
Background information: This is an excerpt from a
letter written by Lorenzo de' Medici, the ruler of Florence
from 1469_1492, to his son Giovanni, who had just
become a cardinal.
You are now devoted to God and the church: on which
account you ought to aim at being a good ecclesiastic
[priest), and to show that you prefer the honor and state
of the church and of the apostolic see the authority of the
pope] to every other consideration ... you should be the
link to bind this city closer to the church, and our family
with the city... you are always to prefer the interests of
the church.
-Lorenzo de' Medici, to his son Giovanni, 1489
Renaissance men were more concerned with
secular ideas than religious ones.
Despite the growth of humanism, the church was
still important to Renaissance men.
Renaissance men owed their loyalty to their city-
state above all other considerations.
The most important consideration for any man was
his family, followed by the church.
Done