By this knowledge, together with his riches, his craft, his tact, his business ramifications as an international banker, his open-handedness and air of personal simplicity, Cosimo made himself a power.

For Florence could he not do enough.

By inviting the Pope and the Greek Emperor to meet there he gave it great political importance, and incidentally brought about the New Learning.

He established the Platonic Academy and formed the first public library in the west.

He rebuilt and endowed the monastery of S.Marco.He built and rebuilt other churches.