The Medici, it seems to me, are examples of humanity at its core: corruptable, courageous, capable of greatness and gratuity, alike. The world owes a lot to their contributions. Let us not forget that we are not so far removed from this time of earth shattering revelations in art and science. Our own time is filled with new and controversial theories. From global warming to stem cell research, to lawsuits based on artistic representations; our age is just as important, and even more so because we have the capacity to live it out and impact it. Don't take history as a reason to judge, but learn from it that judgements are just another aspect of history. Learn from the past, but don't think yourself inseperable from it.