Expert: Maria - 5/5/2004

Question
what are two renaissance italian republics?

Answer
Hello,

Generally speaking, these two Renaissance Italian  Republics are  Venice and Florence, which were the most powerful, though Florence became quite soon a Signoria ( seignory), that is a territory over which a lord (the Medici, in this case) held jurisdiction.

During the Renaissance however there were in Italy other republics, like Genoa, one of the most important, Siena and Lucca.

Finally I must point out that in this period  many small Italian republics developed often  into despotisms and became  the centres of power moved from the landed estates to the cities and at the height of the Renaissance there were five major city-states in Italy: the Reign of Naples and Sicily, the Papal State, Florence,Veniceand  the duchy of Milan.
Italy's economic growth is best exemplified in the development of strong banks, most notably the Medici bank of Florence.

Have a nice day.
Maria