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Italian Renaissance Changes

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To start off the widely known European Renaissance, the Italian Renaissance was the earliest manifestation of the 200 year-long cultural event. After the Black Death had taken its toll, the new era had emerged in Italy. Italy was a very strong influence in Europe, containing 5 major city states, known as; Venice, Milan, Florence, Papal States, and Nepal. It was during this time, that many aspects of the European lifestyle began altering because of this rebirth in Italy, both intellectually and politically. To begin with, many changes had occurred across Europe intellectually in many different ways. One of the most significant movements was new philosophical attitude called humanism. Humanism is a system of thought attaching prime importance to …show more content…

First, the Italian Renaissance was based off of its thriving economy. The 5 major cities, especially Florence, were prosperous because of the trading posts connecting them with the Byzantine Empire throughout the Mediterranean Sea. These flourishing towns with a lack of a feudal system allowed for a an oligarchy as a government. An oligarchy is a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or a dominant class or clique, eventually leading to a monarch. In Milan, the Visconti were the rulers of that city state; In Venice, there was a Council of Ten; Florence, the powerful Medici Family; Milan was ruled by the Sforza family; Rome was ruled by the pope. Lastly, Naples was conquered by Alfonso I, later to be captured in 1504 by Spain. Each city-state at the time wanted to be the face of Italy, but the other city states had tried to balance the power within the country, using foreign help if need be. However, all city-states were patrons of the arts, trying to make their city the most beautiful place in Italy, in anyways possible. It was until 1870 that the 5 major city-states united into one

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