Review by Choice Review
Cohn's original study approaches the development of the Renaissance state from the novel perspective of rebellious mountain peasants in the Florentine state. In the second half of the 14th century Florence squeezed as much money as possible out of the peasantry and suppressed any opposition. But the mountain peasants did not slip into political docility and demographic decline. Instead, peasant rebellion against tax iniquities reached a climax in 1401. Realizing that a peaceable peasantry made for a secure state, the Florentine government began a new policy of compromise and concern for peasant welfare in 1402. It began to shift away from the "medieval mosaic of rural fiscal inequities" toward a more equitable tax based on individual wealth, a policy that reached a conclusion in 1427. Thus, peasant rebellions played a key role in stimulating the development of the Florentine Renaissance state. Along the way, Cohn provides insights into the lives of mountain peasants and challenges assumptions about the behavior of peasant groups before 1789. The book is soundly based on Florentine archival documents, clearly written, and strongly argued, but with understanding for the historical actors. Highly recommended for undergraduates and above. P. Grendler; University of Toronto
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
