1. Renaissance 1450- 1600 AD Italian City States

2. Renaissance in Italy 1375-1527  City states were the political unit of the time  Depended on diplomacy to stay “loosely confederated”  Introduction of classical learning  Creation of the university system  Italy’s strategic Mediterranean placement

3. Italy (continued)  Trade with “East”  Fall of Constantinople in 1453  Vernacular use increases- replaces Latin gradually  Wealth increase in Italy  Wealthy become patrons of the arts  Exploration of New Worlds begin  Foundations laid for mercantilism

4. Italy (continued)  Governments begin to centralize in all other countries EXCEPT for Italy and Germany

5. Humanism  Belief that man can create– he is no longer a passive participant in the world around him– He can influence and make a difference

6. City States  Republic Florence- merchant – ruled by the D’medicis  Duchy of Milan  Republic of Genoa  Kingdom of Naples  Papal States  Republic of Venice– the most liberal

7. City States  Rich in trade become the bankers of Europe– for now  Very competitive  Most ruled by despots-Venice the exception which is rich merchant oligarchy  Internal social class conflict- Florence best example 1) old rich 2) new rich 3) small businessman 4) lower class Popolo minuto= little people 1/3 pop of Florence

8. VIPs  Cosimo de Medici- ends revolts by lower classes  Brings stability- good statesman  Used council to rule- members picked from guilds

9. VIPs  Lorenzo the Magnificent  Ruled 1478-92  Assassination of brother by rival family Pazzi made him more cautious  Used huge armies- Codotteri  Conflict to diplomacy

10. Intro to The Prince by Machiavelli  Two changes in Renaissance  1. printing destroyed clergy intellectual monopoly  2. gunpowder destroyed nobility military monopoly

11. Renaissance  Rediscovery of man- man becomes center of universe  Italian city states are islands of “republicanism”in a sea of European monarchialcal loyalty  Florence– “THE” city state; home of DaVinci, Machiavelli, Lorenzo de medici

12. Machiavelli  diplomat in Florence  Wrote first political science doc in Europe  Lost job when Medici’s take over with Pope’s help  Writes the Prince to get job back  Dedicates Prince to Lorenzo de Medici but uses Cesar Borgia as “model” for the Prince

13. Machiavelli continued  First political science work to NOT address “the end of the state” (like Aristotle and Plato)  The Prince says” Power is an end in itself!!!” and how to retain acquire and expand power. (or rename “POWER for DUMMIES!!!”)