The Rise and Fall of the Medici Bank. A century-long history of the most influential banking dynasty in Europe.

The Medici family members are widely known for their outstanding role in the Italian Renaissance. However, their activities as bankers and merchants are not well studied. It was their economic power that allowed them to seize political power and monopolize business dealings in Europe west of the Rhine. Raymond de Roover's extensive work is based on rare archival documents. It is dedicated to the Medici Bank - the most influential in Europe in the 15th century - and is extremely important for understanding the economy, politics, and social life of that time. It is interesting that the history of the Medici Bank resonates with the present day and enriches our knowledge of the origins of modern business.