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How did the silk industry contribute to Renaissance Milan?
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Milan
Shoppers in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan.
The introduction of the silk industry was a cornerstone of the prosperity experienced by Milan during the Italian Renaissance. Following his rise to power in 1450, Francesco Sforza established a new dynasty, and the subsequent period of economic growth was fundamentally based on the development of this industry.1
The industry flourished further under his successor, Galeazzo Maria Sforza, who took an active interest in the city's economic development. By encouraging the manufacture of silk and wool, he helped solidify Milan's status as a commercial hub. This industrial expansion supported the immense wealth and cultural patronage that characterized the Sforza court, defining the city's golden age during the Renaissance.21