Europe city-states

In an attempt to understand the Europe city-states mentioned in European history, I went searching.

This is what I found about the city-states of Europe.

Any of these names are associated to city-state.

• Milan
• Rome
• Florence
• Venice
• Genoa
• Bologna

These were all wealth centres but most of the wealth of these places came from commercial enterprise and from pawn brokerage and banking. They were naturally strategically placed to be able to capitalize from trade between east and west Europe. These names are often associated to Lombardism which flourished in the 600 to 800 AD period. All of these places became self sufficient centres and city-states mostly starting in about 1000 AD. Florentine merchant bankers for example, supplied alot of money to the feudal lords, and to popes or Rome, or monarchs of papal-states.

City-states were garrisoned by walls and within these walls industry and commerce was what kept the political machine working. Outside the walls, much land was available for farming, or for working mines and raising animals. These lands became feudal grounds and areas often defended by condottieri, merchant military leaders who dealt in providing  mercenary soldiers to any feudal king, monarch, or pope who could afford to pay the price.

Until about 1200 AD city-states were run by feudal  nobility or by landed aristocrats who shared power with rich merchants. This often led to power struggles within the city-state walls. Craftsmen guilds and other unions became powerful enough to challenge the nobles and the aristocrats. City-states also were vulnerable to struggles with neighbouring city-states. After 1200 AD new politics are emerging in the garrison walled cities of Europe.

A type of republic was tried were officials were elected by citizens. The elected chief had two councils. One of public opinion and one of private opinion. One public. One secret. Much of the Renaissance saw city states run by the rules of despotism which is basically a system of oligarchy or autocracy where a single person called a despot rules. Oligarchal rule is usually bloodline oriented and family names like Medici, Orsini, and others are popular brands of bloodline despotic ruling class.

Cosimo de Medici, a Republican era leading Florence figure, for example, revived Plato when he sponsored Gemistus Pletho who founded a discussion group called the Platonic Academy in Florence. The Neo-Platonic Academy continues to exist when Cosimo's grandson is heading Florence. Lorenzo is well acquainted with the greats of the Renaissance. Michelangelo is often at is table and joins Lorenzo in the meetings of the Platonic Academy.

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Where to next.....
Shifting allegiances with the political winds of the Guelphs and the Ghibellines.

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Always open to suggestions and corrections