Editing Renaissance architecture (section)

==== Political ====

In the 15th century, [[Republic of Florence|Florence]] and [[Republic of Venice|Venice]] extended their power through much of the area that surrounded them, making the movement of artists possible. This enabled Florence to have significant artistic influence in [[Duchy of Milan|Milan]], and through Milan, [[Kingdom of France|France]].

In 1377, the return of the Pope from the [[Avignon Papacy]]<ref>Joëlle Rollo-Koster, ''Raiding Saint Peter: Empty Sees, Violence, and the Initiation of the Great Western Schism (1378)'', (Brill, 2008), 182.</ref> and the re-establishment of the [[Papal court]] in Rome, brought wealth and importance to that city, as well as a renewal in the importance of the Pope in Italy, which was further strengthened by the [[Council of Constance]] in 1417. Successive Popes, especially [[Julius II]], 1503–13, sought to extend the Papacy's [[Papal states|temporal power]] throughout Italy.<ref name=A.M>Andrew Martindale, ''Man and the Renaissance'', 1966, Paul Hamlyn, ISBN unknown</ref>