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(The medieval Church's)laws against usury - charging interest on loans |
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- were a major obstacle to the development of finance in Europe |
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After all, what God-fearing Christian merchant wished to risk the torments of hell |
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This astonishing vision of eternal damnation was painted by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari |
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on the inside of the great dome of Florence's Cathedral, the Duomo |
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And below there's another fresco by Domenico di Michelino |
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of Florence's greatest poet, Dante Alighieri, holding his masterwork, the Divine Comedy |
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According to Dante, there was a special part of the seventh circle of hell that was exclusively set aside for usurers |
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There the moneylenders were eternally tortured with scorching earth and freezing snow |
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their necks weighed down with bulging purses |
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