The Black Death’s devastation in Europe ultimately allowed already successful economies to be re-shaped. As urban economies such as Florence’s began to recover, people from the country moved to town in search of work. Among those who moved to Florence from the contado, the countryside around Florence, some became skilled artisans, merchants, politicians and even bankers.

Many of those who became successful also came to dominate the Florentine government. Those with ancient family names such as the Strozzi and the Albizzi, to name but two, were able to retain a good deal of their power, but they were joined by the nuovi ricchi who entered the Florentine aristocracy as a result of their business acumen.