In the Florence of Humanism and the Renaissance, a complex set of economic, social and cultural factors was at play that we can sum up as the ‘Florence Factor’. It refers to a particular capitalistic model made up of commercial and manufacturing enterprises that guaranteed high-quality production in the wool and silk sectors, as well as warehouses, workshops and small- and large-scale bankers. It enjoyed a broad network of entrepreneurs characterised by risk taking and propensity for innovation. Work was carried out in the warehouses and workshops in a way that valued human capital, through internal training and workers’ awareness of their role. Another component of the Florence factor was a strong focus on training young people. The education of many young men was completed with direct experience in trade and finance, which could be gained through an apprenticeship or through their first responsibilities working in a shop or abroad. The city and its context hosted a unique fertile cultural mix that combined aesthetic sensibility and environmental qualities that nurtured the incisive intercultural trade in which Florentines excelled.