Italian City States

Primary Source “We have around about us thirty thousand estates . . . yielding us yearly bread and meat, wine and oil, vegetables and cheese, hay and wool . . . Our beautiful Florence contains within the city in this present year two hundred seventy shops belonging to the wool merchant's guild, from whence their wares are sent to Rome and the Marches, Naples and Sicily, Constantinople and Pera, Adrianople, Broussa and the whole of Turkey. It contains also eighty-three rich and splendid warehouses of the silk merchant's guild, and furnishes gold and silver stuffs, velvet, brocade, damask, taffeta and satin to Rome, Naples, Catolina, and the whole of Spain, espcecially Seville, and to Turkey and Barbary.” - Benedetto Del, Florentine Merchant Q: Which geographic features make Florence a suitable site for a city? Q: How does the painting and quotation illustrate pride in Florence?

City States Renaissance Europe looked geographically different than Europe today In what way? Most countries during this time were like kingdoms, empires or principalities ruled by Monarchs Italy was comprised of what were called city states A city-state is made up of a politically independent city surrounded by a rural area called the hinterland

Success of City States Geography played a huge role in how successful a city state would be Dozens of city-states sprung up across the northern half of Italy They were perfectly located to become the wealthiest cities of Europe Keys to success: Geography Climate Leadership Social Organization

Geography Italy was closest to Northern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean Sea This made it less expensive for traders and merchants of Italy to transport these goods

Climate Italy has an extremely mild climate Trade and travel were not interrupted by a harsh winter Italy also had a long growing season which helped produce olives and grapes What were these items used for?

Leadership In pre-modern Europe the majority of countries were monarchies What is a monarchy? Northern Italy was not – it was a collection of independent city states Own government Armies Controlled their own affairs Venice, Milan, Florence and Genoa became the wealthiest trading, business and banking centres of Europe Q: Why do you think leadership made a difference in their success?

Social Organization Feudalism was not as strong in Italy as in the rest of Europe Nobles often moved into towns and cities and took their place with the upper classes Many ended up becoming involved in business and politics Q: Why do you think this difference is important?

Competition for Trade Each city-state wanted to expand their trade and business This often caused rivalries between them They often competed for control of sea routes in the Mediterranean

Venice Venice was founded during the Roman Empire It is a group of islands in a protected harbour This made it easy to defend from attack Venice became a great trading centre At the pinnacle of its power, it had thousands of ships The Venice Arsenal became the largest ship building centre in Europe Two – three thousand people worked there

Primary Source 2 “In this land, where nothing grows, you will find an abundance of everything; for all manner of things from every corner and country of the earth which had stuff to send, especially food, are brought to this place; and there are plenty to buy, since everyone had money. The Rialto [market] looks like a garden, such a wealth there is of herbs and vegetables from the places nearby, such an endless variety of fruits and all so cheap, that it is wonderful to see.” - Marino Sanuto, Diary Entry Q: How does this show the prosperity of Venice? Q: How did trade contribute to the quality of life of those in Venice?

Battle of Chioggia Venice and Genoa competed for control of the Mediterranean Genoa controlled much of the trade with Spain and some with the East This eventually led to a naval battle in 1380 This battle took place in a lagoon off of Chioggia, a port city Venice won the battle Genoa was never as strong again