Italian City-States
Q: What were Italian city-states similar to?
Small countries
What was the feudal system based on?
The common person's need for protection
Which Italian city-states were known for their trade with the Middle East?
Venice, Pisa, and Genoa
How did the Medici family gain power in Florence?
Through banking and financial success
Which Italian city-state was ruled by ruthless men who seized power by treachery and bloodshed?
Milan
Who provided protection in the feudal system?
Feudal lords
What did the Italian city-states trade for in the Middle East?
Spices, medicines, and luxurious cloth
What did the Medici family spend money on to earn the support of the less wealthy?
Churches, hospitals, and tax reform
True or False: City-states like Florence were republics proud of their freedoms.
True
When did the feudal system evolve?
After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century
What flowed back to Italy through the trade routes?
New ideas in art, technology, science, and philosophy
Who established behind-the-scenes control of the Signory in Florence?
Cosimo de' Medici
Why was Italy different from the rest of Europe during the fifteenth century?
Italy did not have a king to unite them and resisted men who tried to conquer them, like Gian Galeazzo Visconti.
What did Europeans exchange for protection in the feudal system?
Land, livestock, and freedoms
Why did northern kingdoms like France and England need money from Italy?
Warfare became more costly, and they needed to hire mercenaries and buy new weapons.
How did Cosimo de' Medici use patronage to enhance his power?
He financed the arts, built magnificent palaces, and organized elaborate celebrations.
What factors contributed to the wealth and independence of Italian city-states?
Italy's urbanization, lack of feudalism, active trade with the Middle East, and well-developed urban environments.
What problem led to the development of the feudal system?
Constant warfare and the need for safety during attacks
Why were Italian city-states successful in trade?
Their proximity to the Middle East, their well-developed urban environments, and their Roman heritage of commerce and trade.
How did the Medici family maintain their dominance in Florence?
They continued to patronize the arts, ruled skillfully, and were