Country Folk in the City: The Mugello, the Medici's Ascension, and the Development of Tuscan Identity

Early modern state-building—defined by rapid military technological advancements and capitalizing on the idea of central identity based on shared culture and linguistics—helps us to understand of the rise of nation states and European nationalism. This dissertation focuses on how medieval and Renaissance comunes, such as Florence, transformed into early modern states. Florence not only succeeded in absorbing her neighboring Tuscan cities and territories, but under Medici leadership Florence survived the political and military upheaval at the start of the sixteenth century. The importance of the Florentine countryside––specifically the Mugello Valley––is a core point of this study. The Medici associated closely with the Mugello and relied on rural networks for protection. The Medici brought unity to their political faction, Florence, and across the Tuscany countryside through cultivating a sense of identity built on historical memory and the promotion of a shared culture shaped by Florentine art and literature which extended beyond the city to incorporate the countryside and smaller cities of the Florentine Territory. The overall aim of this dissertation is to examine the Medici family and their actions both in the city and the countryside to address the question of what was required to create a lasting early modern state.<p></p>