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Humanism in a Bag

Italian City States

The Foundation of Italian City States Italian city-states developed towards the end of the Middle Ages with more and more towns gaining their freedom through charters They conducted their own trade, collected their own taxes, and made their own laws

The Foundation of Italian City States While power was supposed to belong to the people, it ended up in the hands of rich merchants Groups of rich merchants in guilds known as boards would often rule city-states Boards were supposed to change members often, but when wealthy families gained control, they hardly gave it up

City States & Commerce City states were built along the middle of key trade routes in order to attract people to them Some city-states became specialized in one or two things Florence – Cloth Making & Banking Milan – Metal goods & Armor Genoa – Ivory & Gold Venice – Silk, Spices & Perfume

City States & Commerce The wealth of the city-states encouraged a boom in art and learning Most of the statues, paintings, and buildings were paid for by the rich They also built new universities and more modern hospitals than what had been used in the Middle Ages