Directions: For this discussion, you will be using the following PDF to complete these assigned “stations".
Each station has the name of the corresponding reading in the PDF file. You will use the reading to answer the questions in each station. Make sure that you answer each station fully.
The Influence of Italian City-States - USE THIS PAGE FOR #'s 1-6
The Renaissance began in northern and central Italy. One reason why it began
there was the prosperity of Italian city-states [city-states: an independent state
consisting of a city and its surrounding territory] .
In the Late Middle Ages, most of western Europe was made up of fiefs ruled by
nobles. Above the nobles were monarchs. In Italy, however, growing towns developed
into independent city-states. Each city-state consisted of a powerful city and the
surrounding territory [territory: a specific area of land] , which might include other
towns.
The Italian city-states conducted their own trade, collected their own taxes, and
made their own laws. Some, such as Florence, were republics [republics: a form of
government in which citizens elect representatives to rule for them] that were
governed by elected councils.
In theory, the power in republics belonged to the people. In fact, it often lay in
the hands of rich merchants. During the Middle Ages, guilds of craftspeople and
merchants became very powerful. During the Renaissance, groups of guild members,
called boards, often ruled Italian city-states. Boards were supposed to change
members frequently. However, wealthy families often gained long-term control. As a
result, some city-states were ruled by a single rich family, such as the Medici (MED-uh-
chee) family in Florence.
Trade made the Italian city-states dazzlingly wealthy. Italy’s central
Mediterranean location in the middle of the trade routes connected distant places with
the rest of western Europe. People from all over Europe came to northern Italy to buy,
sell, and do their banking.
Some Italian city-states developed specializations. Florence became a center for
cloth making and banking. Milan produced metal goods and armor. The port city of
Genoa was a trade center for ivory and gold from northern Africa. Venice, the most
powerful city-state, had hundreds of ships that controlled the trade routes in the
Mediterranean Sea. Venice specialized in trade and commerce. Silk, spices, and
perfume flowed into Venice from Asia.
The city-states’ wealth encouraged a boom in art and learning. Rich families paid
for the creation of statues, paintings, beautiful buildings, and elegant avenues. They
built new centers of learning, such as universities and hospitals. From the city-states of
Italy, Renaissance ideas spread to the rest of Europe.
Answer the following questions using the back of STATION 1- INFLUENCE OF ITALIAN CITY-STATES PDF.
Where did the Renaissance begin?
In Italy, growing towns developed into independent ______________-_________________ . Each consisted of a power city and the surrounding territory, which might include other towns.
The Italian city-states conducted their own _____________________, collected their own ______________, and made their own _____________ .
What family became the wealthiest family in Florence?
What each of the following Italian city-states specialized in:
Florence:
Milan:
Genoa:
Venice:
Where did the ideas of the Italian city-states spread during the Renaissance:
1 answer
Answers to the Station 1: Influence of Italian City-States
Where did the Renaissance begin?
The Renaissance began in northern and central Italy.
In Italy, growing towns developed into independent -___. Each consisted of a power city and the surrounding territory, which might include other towns.
In Italy, growing towns developed into independent city-states.
The Italian city-states conducted their own _____________________, collected their own ______________, and made their own _____________.
The Italian city-states conducted their own trade, collected their own taxes, and made their own laws.
What family became the wealthiest family in Florence?
The wealthiest family in Florence was the Medici family.
What each of the following Italian city-states specialized in:
Florence: Cloth making and banking.
Milan: Metal goods and armor.
Genoa: Trade center for ivory and gold from northern Africa.
Venice: Trade and commerce, controlling the Mediterranean trade routes and handling silk, spices, and perfume from Asia.
Where did the ideas of the Italian city-states spread during the Renaissance?
The ideas of the Italian city-states spread to the rest of Europe during the Renaissance.
1 answer