15.1 The Italian States

[p1] Compared to the rest of Europe in the late Middle Ages, Italy was much more _______, and it had a thriving __________. Select two options from the list to fill the blanks.

• Urban (more people lived in cities)

• Rural (more people lived on farms)

• Violent (most people died in war)

• Trade network

• Warrior culture (Bushido: the way of the warrior)

[p1] What sorts of goods did Italian cities obtain from eastern ports for trade in Europe?

• High demand luxuries: silks, sugar, & spices.

• Basic necessities: grain & fresh water.

• None, Italian cities did not trade in eastern ports.

[p1] The textbook says, "By the early fifteenth century, five major territorial states had come to dominate the peninsula." What does "dominate" mean?

• To influence or control

• To live in a place

• To trade luxury goods

[p2] What word describes a soldier who fights primarily for money or pay, such as Francesco Sforza who conquered Milan?

• Mercenary

• Burgher

• Monarchy

• City-state

[p2] Which of these statements describes Venice & its politics?

• It was officially a republic, led by an elected leader (the Doge), but really run by a small group of wealthy merchant-aristocrats.

• It was a centralized monarchy, led by a powerful king, & it ruled over many other city-states.

• It was ruled by the Pope, who was also officially the leader of the entire Catholic Church.

[p2] Cause-&-effect: What happened to the Church's power as the Italian states grew wealthier?

• Its power declined & some of its doctrines (teachings) were ignored.

• Its power grew stronger & the Church seized much of Italy's new wealth.

• Its power remained the same as before, as wealth had no effect on people's religious beliefs.

[p3] The growth of large monarchical states in the rest of Europe (such as France & Spain) led to problems for Italy because...

• the Italian people wanted a strong monarch to rule them too.

• those kings of large states could raise large armies with which to attack the city-states.

• France & Spain joined together to invade Italy as allies.

• the rest of Europe was envious of Italy.

[p3] Who wrote "The Prince," one of the most influential works on political power in the Western world?

• Niccolo Machiavelli

• Lorenzo de' Medici

• King Charles VIII of France

• Girolamo Savonarola

[p3] What did Machiavelli believe about morality?

• Morality is unrelated to politics: rulers should act on behalf of their state, even when those actions are "evil"

• Morality is the compass for politics: rulers should always do what is right, even if it weakens his own power.

• Morality is central to understanding power: citizens are motivated to do what is right always, even when it cost them time or money.

[p4] Check the Primary Source "Machiavelli on Trust." What does Machiavelli use as the basis of his argument about how a prince should act?

• Morality (right vs. wrong)

• Commands found in the Bible

• Contemporary experience