Italian city-states
Topic: Renaissance, Reformation and the Scientific Revolution · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Changing Cultural Traditions"
Meaning
The Italian city-states were independent towns in Italy that ruled themselves. After the western Roman Empire fell, these towns fell into ruin. They grew again through trade with Byzantium and the Islamic countries. From the twelfth century, trade with China along the Silk Route, opened up by the Mongols, put them at the centre of commerce. Italy was split into many small states, and the Pope was not a strong political figure.
Example
Florence and Venice were republics, while many other towns were court-cities ruled by princes. In Venice and Genoa, the clergy (church officials) were not politically powerful and there were no powerful feudal lords (big landowners). Rich merchants and bankers took part in government, so the idea of citizenship took root. It survived even when military rulers took power for a time.
Don't confuse with
- Feudal kingdoms of northern Europe: there, kings, lords and the church held power. In the Italian towns, merchants and bankers shared in government.