Guilds and guilds in Florence
In Florence in the 13th century , guilds or guilds came into being , which were referred to as the "arts" and which specialized in the "higher arts", the Arti Maggiori (the "noble" professions) and the "lower arts", the Arti Minori (the simpler crafts such as blacksmith, shoemaker, stonemason) were divided.
There were seven Arti Maggiori , of which the six trade guilds were the most important, such as the guilds of fabric finishers and traders ( Arte dei Mercatanti o di Calimala ), money changers and bankers ( Arte del Cambio ) and the cloth and fur traders ( Arte della) Lana ). The nine "lower arts" did not allow social advancement and were far below these guilds.
The guilds had their own assembly buildings. Banks such as B. those of the Medici in Florence belonged to the guilds. Since the Medici companies included various branches of the economy, they were not only members of the money changers' guild, but also other guilds and guilds. They achieved a remarkable political rise.
In 1770 Leopold II (HRR) abolished the Florentine guilds.
