Editing Renaissance (section)

===Social and political structures in Italy===
[[File:Italy 1494 AD.png|thumb|A political map of the [[Italian Peninsula]] c. 1494]]

The unique political structures of [[Italy]] during the [[Late Middle Ages]] have led some to theorize that its unusual social climate allowed the emergence of a rare cultural efflorescence. Italy did not exist as a [[Nation state|political entity]] in the early modern period. Instead, it was divided into smaller [[Italian city-states|city-states]] and territories: the [[Kingdom of Naples|Neapolitans]] controlled the south, the [[Republic of Florence|Florentines]] and the [[Papal States|Romans]] at the center, the [[Duchy of Milan|Milanese]] and the [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] to the north and west respectively, and the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] to the north east. 15th-century Italy was one of the most [[Urbanization|urbanized]] areas in Europe.<ref>Kirshner, Julius, ''Family and Marriage: A socio-legal perspective'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=x9grA0fWpDMC&pg=PA89 ''Italy in the Age of the Renaissance: 1300–1550''], ed. John M. Najemy (Oxford University Press, 2004) p. 89 (Retrieved 10 May 2007)</ref> Many of its cities stood among the ruins of ancient Roman buildings; it seems likely that the classical nature of the Renaissance was linked to its origin in the Roman Empire's heartland.<ref>Burckhardt, Jacob, ''The Revival of Antiquity'', [http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/hy309/docs/burckhardt/3-2.html ''The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070407181825/http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/hy309/docs/burckhardt/3-2.html |date=7 April 2007 }} (trans. by S.G.C. Middlemore, 1878)</ref>

Historian and political philosopher [[Quentin Skinner]] points out that [[Otto of Freising]] (c. 1114–1158), a German bishop visiting north Italy during the 12th century, noticed a widespread new form of political and social organization, observing that Italy appeared to have exited from [[feudalism]] so that its society was based on merchants and commerce. Linked to this was anti-monarchical thinking, represented in the famous early Renaissance [[fresco]] cycle ''[[The Allegory of Good and Bad Government]]'' by [[Ambrogio Lorenzetti]] (painted 1338–1340), whose strong message is about the virtues of fairness, justice, republicanism and good administration. Holding both Church and [[Holy Roman Empire|Empire]] at bay, these city republics were devoted to notions of liberty. Skinner reports that there were many defences of liberty such as the [[Matteo Palmieri]] (1406–1475) celebration of Florentine genius not only in art, sculpture and architecture, but "the remarkable efflorescence of moral, social and political philosophy that occurred in Florence at the same time".<ref name="Skinner, Quentin p. 69">Skinner, Quentin, ''The Foundations of Modern Political Thought'', vol I: ''The Renaissance''; vol II: ''The Age of Reformation'', Cambridge University Press, p. 69</ref>

Even cities and states beyond central Italy, such as the Republic of Florence at this time, were also notable for their [[Maritime republics|merchant republics]], especially the Republic of Venice. Although in practice these were [[Oligarchy|oligarchical]], and bore little resemblance to a modern [[democracy]], they did have democratic features and were responsive states, with forms of participation in governance and belief in liberty.<ref name="Skinner, Quentin p. 69"/><ref>Stark, Rodney, ''The Victory of Reason'', New York, Random House, 2005</ref><ref>Martin, J. and Romano, D., ''Venice Reconsidered'', Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University, 2000</ref> The relative political freedom they afforded was conducive to academic and artistic advancement.<ref name="burckhardt-republics">Burckhardt, Jacob, ''The Republics: Venice and Florence'', ''[http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/hy309/docs/burckhardt/1-7.html The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070407035616/http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/hy309/docs/burckhardt/1-7.html |date=7 April 2007 }}'', translated by S.G.C. Middlemore, 1878.</ref> Likewise, the position of Italian cities such as Venice as great trading centres made them intellectual crossroads. [[Merchant]]s brought with them ideas from far corners of the globe, particularly the [[Levant]]. Venice was Europe's gateway to trade with the East, and a producer of [[Venetian glass|fine glass]], while Florence was a capital of textiles. The wealth such business brought to Italy meant large public and private artistic projects could be commissioned and individuals had more leisure time for study.<ref name="burckhardt-republics" />