The Age of the Renaissane

How were Italian townsmen were able to set up independent communes? How did members of communes structure their governments to meet their needs and provide for internal stability? Do you think that these communes would be stable?

This question relies on Kaborycha, Short History, pp. 5-12. First of all, what is a commune? What political and economic factors favored the establishment of communes? This section of the paper discusses the conflict between pope and emperor; the “commercial revolution.” The next section of the paper requires discussion of the internal problems of the commune: violent nobles; the efforts of the populo (guilds) to take control—towers and restrictions on nobles.. Then the paper should discuss communal government: representative assemblies; executives; taxes. And then there’s the problem of stability: internal splits or factions (Guelfs vs. Ghilellines); conflicts between cities; on the other hand, the economy was good in the 1200s (the Duecento), especially in Florence. In fact, much of this paper may focus on Florence.