The Renaissance in The Renaissance in Italy and the Rise of Italy and the Rise of

the City-Statesthe City-States

The Italian The Italian City-StatesCity-States• Location – Historical Location – Historical

crossroads of the crossroads of the Mediterranean Sea.Mediterranean Sea.– TradeTrade– MerchantsMerchants– BankingBanking– WealthWealth

• Papal domination of Papal domination of the Middle Ages the Middle Ages meant no national meant no national outlook.outlook.

Oligarchies and DespotsOligarchies and Despots

• City-State government City-State government was normally created was normally created as merchant as merchant oligarchies.oligarchies.

• Venetian ExampleVenetian Example– Patrician Senate (300 Patrician Senate (300

members)members)– Council of Ten (Judicial Council of Ten (Judicial

Body)Body)

• Competition, however, Competition, however, will turn most city-will turn most city-states to subtle and states to subtle and severe despotism severe despotism

Piazza San Marco in VenicePiazza San Marco in Venice

City-State Social Divisions – City-State Social Divisions – Florentine ExampleFlorentine Example

• GrandiGrandi – Old Rich, nobles or merchants – Old Rich, nobles or merchants traditionally rule the city (Pazzi and the traditionally rule the city (Pazzi and the Medici)Medici)

• Popolo GrossoPopolo Grosso – New Rich, bankers and – New Rich, bankers and capitalists, challenge the new rich for capitalists, challenge the new rich for power.power.

• Middle-Burgher Ranks – guild masters, Middle-Burgher Ranks – guild masters, artisans, and professionals.artisans, and professionals.

• Popolo MinutoPopolo Minuto – lower economic classes – lower economic classesCiompi Revolt - 1378Ciompi Revolt - 1378

Arte della Lana Arte della Lana

The MediciThe Medici

• Banking FranchiseBanking Franchise• 1434 – Cosimo de’ 1434 – Cosimo de’

Medici – controlled the Medici – controlled the Office or Public DebtOffice or Public Debt

• Through manipulation Through manipulation of elections he will of elections he will also control the also control the SignoriaSignoria

• His grandson Lorenzo His grandson Lorenzo will rule Florence as a will rule Florence as a totalitarian until 1492totalitarian until 1492

Cosimo de’ Medici (The Great)Cosimo de’ Medici (The Great)

  

Three Wise Men By Benozzo Gozzoli Three Wise Men By Benozzo Gozzoli

Lorenzo de' MediciLorenzo de' Medici(The Magnificent)(The Magnificent)

DespotismDespotism

• Hired or installed Hired or installed strongmen or strongmen or familiesfamilies

• Purpose was to Purpose was to maintain law and maintain law and order, but most order, but most importantly to keep importantly to keep business operatingbusiness operating

• They operated They operated through mercenary through mercenary armies known as armies known as condottiericondottieri

Ludovico Sforza Ludovico Sforza

Francesco I Sforza Francesco I Sforza

Effects of the City-State Effects of the City-State SystemSystem

• 1 – Diplomacy thrived in 1 – Diplomacy thrived in the city-state the city-state environment.environment.– The first embassies The first embassies

of Europe were of Europe were created.created.

• 2 – The city-state 2 – The city-state system of Italy also system of Italy also created an environment created an environment for a flourishing of the for a flourishing of the arts. Why?arts. Why?– CompetitionCompetition– Money!!!!Money!!!!

MilanMilan

FlorenceFlorenceVeniceVenice

RomeRome