Memoir of Gregorio Dati in Brucker, Two Memoirs of Renaissance Florence

GREGORIO DATI (1362-1436) Florentine merchant
The Italian title of his “diary” is “Libro segreto,” or “Secret Book” referring to the “secret account
books” that merchants kept to shield information from the Florentine government. Other similar
books from the same period are entitled “Ricordi” or “Memoirs.”

Genre: What kind of a “diary” is this? What kind of information is included?

What can you learn about Dati’s background & social status?

What kind of economic activity is he involved in?

What is the geographical range and scale of his business?

What do his religious beliefs consist of?

Is there any conflict between his religion and his economic activities?

What do we learn about his wives, children and sexual affairs?

(Try counting them up and keeping track of deaths.)

How does the dowry system interact with his business affairs?

How does he deal with taxation?

What kind of offices does he hold in Florence?