1. The Renaissance
Why Italy?????

2. Why Italy? Geography Crossroads of trade Urbanization
25% of Italians were involved in the civil culture
Cities acted as magnets for trade, ideas and culture

3. Social Factors
Nobles tended to be more oriented to money-making and cultural accomplishment
A new elite emerged where wealth and worldly achievement mattered more than simply status

4. Political Variety
Collection of small and large city-states
City-states had flourished in the absence of the pope
No central authority to stamp out potentially threatening ideas

5. The Italian City States
Florence
Ruled as a republic
Dominated by the Medici family
Important people
Cosimo de Medici
Lorenzo de Medici
Savanarola

6. Center of textiles and banking
“Queen City of the Renaissance”

7. Military dictatorship ruled by the Visconti family Important people
Milan
Military dictatorship ruled by the Visconti family
Important people
Gian Galeazzo Visconti
Francesco Sforza
Condottiere

8. Center of overland trade between Italy’s seaports and Northern Europe
Gained wealth from agriculture and industry

9. Technically ruled as a despotism by the papacy
Papal States
Technically ruled as a despotism by the papacy
Actually an ineffective elective monarchy
Important people
Alexander VI
Julius II

10. Time period of 1417-1540 is called the Renaissance papacy
Popes became deeply involved in politics
Their secular involvements reduced their effectiveness
Rome became the center of the High Renaissance after 1490

11. Venice
Technically a republic
Actually an oligarchy (Book of Gold)
The Great Council Elected the Doge
More of a figure head than actual ruler

12. Venice was a major trading power due to its contact with the Byzantine Empire and later the Ottomans

13. Naples
A relatively backward feudal monachy
Participated little in the intellectual and artistic Renaissance