The Medici were a rich family of bankers in Florence, in what is now Italy. From the 1400s into the 1700s they held great power in that city, and later they ruled the wider land around it.

The Medici were a rich family of bankersMedici家族是一個富有的銀行家族 in Florence, in what is now Italy位於佛羅倫斯，也就是今天的義大利。From the 1400s into the 1700s從15世紀到18世紀，they held great power in that city他們在這座城市握有很大的權力，and later they ruled the wider land around it後來還統治了周圍更廣的地區。

English remembers them less for banking than for what they did with the money: they paid for churches, libraries, and a huge amount of art. Names you meet in art class — Botticelli, Michelangelo, and others — had Medici money behind them.

English remembers them less for banking than for what they did with the money英文世界記得他們，比較不是因為銀行業，而是因為他們怎麼用那些錢：they paid for churches, libraries, and a huge amount of art他們出資蓋教堂、圖書館，還贊助了大量的藝術品。Names you meet in art class你在美術課上會遇到的名字 — Botticelli, Michelangelo, and others波提且利、米開朗基羅等等 — had Medici money behind them背後都有Medici家族的資金。

You say the Medici for the family, and a Medici prince or a Medici palace for one person or one building. It is a history-and-art word, not everyday talk. You meet it in museums, textbooks, and films about that Italian time of great painting and building.

You say the Medici for the family說the Medici是指整個家族，and a Medici prince or a Medici palace說a Medici prince或a Medici palace for one person or one building則是指某一個人或某一棟建築。It is a history-and-art word這是個歷史和藝術用詞，not everyday talk不是日常會話。You meet it in museums, textbooks, and films你會在博物館、教科書和電影裡遇到它 about that Italian time of great painting and building描述那段義大利繪畫和建築的黃金時期。

Though actually, they were not kings at first. They were bankers who became rulers. The money came first, and the city followed.

Though actually不過其實，they were not kings at first他們一開始並不是國王。They were bankers who became rulers他們是先當銀行家，後來才變成統治者的。The money came first錢是先來的，and the city followed城市的統治權才跟著來。