Guglielmo
Boccanegra made a name for himself in Genoese politics of the 13th century. After
being an experienced official from a non-aristocratic family, Boccanegra ruled
over prosperous yet a divided Genoa. He came to power as Captain of the Popolo
or the People elected by the people. His government presided over financial
reforms and achieved considerable diplomatic developments. Although his rule
was short, he made an impact to the political life of Genoa for centuries.
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Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Who were the Guelfs and Ghibellines?
Dante
and Petrarch had many commonalities – they were great literary figures, they
contributed to the development of Italian literature, and they both experienced
the political divide between Guelfs and Ghibellines. The rivalry between
Ghibellines and Guelfs led to the expulsion of Dante and Petrarch’s family as
they sided with the Guelfs. But this rivalry between Ghibellines and Guelfs not
only created an impact on the lives of this 2 figures, but also created a mark
in the political history of Italy.
What were the Guilds?
“Bird
of the same feather, flock together.”
A
common saying but same can be said in the Medieval Age when men of the same
crafts come together to form an organization called a guild. A guild was a
community of craftsmen (e.g. masons, butchers, tanners, blacksmiths, etc.) from
the same field or merchants that provided mutual assistance and protection,
governed by laws and a strict hierarchy, and maintained standard quality of
goods and services as well as market stability.