THE RENAISSANCE The wealthy urban society of the Italian cities brought a rebirth of art and learning in Europe. Italy’s locations helped cities grow from wealthy from trade and banking, but many of the cities fell under the control of strong rulers. Unlike medieval nobles, the Renaissance nobles lived in cities, were active in trade, banking and public life.

THE RENAISSANCE Renaissance means “rebirth” and it marks the re- emergence of art and learning in Europe. The Renaissance began in Italy and then moved north and spread throughout Europe. During the Renaissance, people began to stress the importance of the individual person and moved away from religion and took a more secular view on the world.

THE RENAISSANCE The Renaissance began in Italy because it was the center of the old Roman Empire, a great deal of European wealth existed there, and country was still divided into very small city-states that competed very aggressively against each other.

THE RENAISSANCE Italian city-states became very wealthy through trade. Italy was perfectly located on the Mediterranean Sea which made trade optimal. Because of the Crusades, Italians were able to come in contact with the Mongols and the Chinese which enhanced their wealth through trade.

THE RENAISSANCE Marco Polo was a famous Italian trader who visited China and wrote a book about his travels that sparked interest in the Far East. Marco Polo came from Venice, which was the most wealthiest city at the beginning of the Renaissance. Venice was unique from other Italian cities because instead of roads, it had canals that traveled through the city. The Medici family came from Florence and are credited with financing the beginning of the Renaissance movement.

The wealthy men of Italian cities became a “new type” of leader. Before the Renaissance, noblemen got their wealth from land. The new wealth came from trade. Eventually, the old noblemen from the Middle Ages and the merchants from the Renaissance merged and became the new ruling class in Europe.

In Venice, the head of the city was called a duke or a doge. In Florence, the powerful Medici family ruled for many decades during the Renaissance. Politics in Renaissance Italy was complicated and diplomacy became a very valuable tool in avoiding conflict and rebellion.

As a result of competition among cities in Italy and the need for diplomacy, Italian diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a political book called The Prince. In his book, Machiavelli explained how people could gain and keep power. Machiavelli believed that a person should do whatever is necessary to protect their city and power even if it mean lying and killing.

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