Transcript Lesson 02 - Renaissance Italy

AP EURO
Unit #1 – Renaissance and
Reformation
Lesson #2 – Wealth and power in
Renaissance Italy
Journal & Doc of the Day
Journal 1-2:
Describe Renaissance Italy, in terms of political
unity and competition among city-states.
Documents of the Day:
Compare the statue on p. 314 to 329
Compare the painting on p. 328 to 315
Trade and Prosperity
• Each city-state was like its
own country
• Venice and Genoa – rich
from sea trade
• Developed trade
monopolies
• Florence – location is
everything!
– FLORENTINE
– BANKING (crossroads)
– Led to wealth for more
individuals (ex: Medici)
Italian Wars
Communes and Republics
City-states became “Communes” (sworn associations led by
merchant guilds)
• overpowered the Nobles for independence
• cities in the rest of Europe attempted to emulate
• Challenged by Popolo (commoners)
– could be violent (if taxed too much or disenfranchised too much)
– Would lead to a need for Machiavellianism
– Some became to powerful the took over government and formed
elected bodies – above the “elite”
• Usually, republics were outwitted by a single clever one man
(Signori), or Oligarchies
• Signori lived like kings – developed beautiful Courts
– A show of power – palaces and elaborate ceremony
– Would look for ways to display power and wealth and culture
City States and
Balance of Power
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The “big five”
Milan –Sforza (Signori)
Florence –Medici (banking) Family
Papal States
Naples
Venice – huge trade empire
Big ones controlled smaller ones
Balance of Power – worked until the Italian
Wars of 1494-1559
• PEACE OF LODI (1454)
Milan, Naples and Florence
Shattering of Lodi
Italian independence would come to an end
• Sforza family of Milan wanted to diminish the financial
(and military) power of Venice
• Invited Charles VIII of France to Invade and beat on
Venice (never intended for them to stay!)
• Invasion: 1494 (25,000 man army)
• French army plundered most of Italy… unopposed
• Venice formed LEAGUE OF VENICE (1494)
Venice, Milan (ha!!), Spain and HRE
Later included Papal States and Florence
• United, they cut off Charles and pushed him out of Italy
• Problem:
this became all about Spain vs. France
John Green’s Renaissance intro
Essential Questions
1. How did the City States of Renaissance Italy
interact with each other?
2. What caused the end of Italian
independence?
3. What did it seem Italy meant to Spain and
France?