How the Italians Invented Modern Shopping

Guest Blog post by Vera Litvin

Lucrezia Borgia washing her hands, having administered poison to her husband.

Did you think shopping was a recent invention? Not so, explains William Tyler in the introduction to his The Borgias and the Medicis course. Apparently, shopping as we know it first came into being in 15th Century Italy. Wealthy Italians, like the women in the family of Ludovici Sforza - Leonardo Da Vinci's patron - went on expeditions to buy cloth, silverware, furniture, carpets and much more.

Shopping became so popular in 15-16^th century Italy because of the emergence, for the first time since antiquity, of a middle class with money to spend. Italy at this time was a bustling hub of trading, banking, culture and education. It was the place to be if you wanted to become a doctor, a lawyer or an artist. Italian bankers were trusted all over the world. In the large number of Italian universities humanist teaching emerged, which was based more on Roman and Greek classics and less on the Catholic Church. Italy was the cradle of the Renaissance – a rebirth of art and culture. This was certainly an exciting place to be…

Despite thriving economically and culturally, 15^th and 16^th century Italy had many political problems. It was not a united nation state but a collection of separate and hostile city states. These city states were ruled by a small number of leading families – the Borgia family gained power in Rome while the Medici family dominated Florence. On the one hand, these families were great patrons of culture and the arts. On the other hand, they were corrupt and legends of their crimes – from poisoning and buying office to adultery – are widespread. William Tyler will look at who the Borgias and the Medicis really were in this colourful course. Expect intrigue, intimate secrets and scandal!

The Borgias and the Medicis: Just Two Italian Families with William Tyler is on at 2.00pm on Thursdays. Click here to book:  http://www.ljcc.org.uk/courses/1985-the-borgias-and-the-medicis-just-two-italian-families.html

Or here to buy vouchers to attend individual sessions: http://www.ljcc.org.uk/vouchers/ (Vouchers valid until August)