Lorenzetti’s Golden Mean: The Riformatori of Siena, 1368-1385

This provocative book analyzes one piece of the ‘mosaic’ history of late medieval Italy – the commune of Siena during the years of 1368 to 1385 – the era known as the Riformatori . Here, for the first time in the West, a coalition form of government was created. The laws passed during the Riformatori era demonstrate that the voice of the lower class was finally heard. The eight revolutions and various disturbances that took place attest to the clamor for change. A golden mean amongst the Sienese citizenry was achieved by establishing what was probably the most broadly based ruling body in the history of European government until that time.