Gold still ruled in politics, but it was spent in bribery.

To the ambitious military schemes of Gian Galeazzo Visconti succeeded the commercial cynicism of Cosimo de' Medici, who enslaved Florence by astute demoralization.[1] The spirit of the age was materialistic and positive.
The Despots held their state by treachery, craft, and corruption.

The element of force being virtually eliminated, intelligence at last gained undivided sway; and the ideal statecraft of Machiavelli was realized with more or less completeness in all parts of the peninsula.

At this moment and by these means Italy obtained a brief but golden period of peace beneath the confederation of her great powers.

Nicholas V.had restored the Papal court to Rome in 1447; where he assumed the manners of despotism and counted as one among the Italian Signori.