How+did+the+growth+of+Cities+contribute+to+the+Renaissance+and+a+changing+worldview?

ARJUN + BRANT= How did the Growth of Cities- Contribute to a Changing Worldview?

-By the late middle ages Europeans wanted more of the spices and silks that had been brought back by crusaders. -Crusaders were formed in the late Middle ages, to control parts of the Middle East. -Merchants hired adventurers and sailors to open new trade routes to India and China. -As the number of merchants grew so did Europe’s growing wealth. The middle class began more powerful and rich which brought them outside of the Feudal System. -An increase in contact between cultures, which allowed Europe to get objects such as rare foods, fabrics and other products. -People began to realize that it was up to them to decide their future and not gods. So some of poorer people started to become the new middle class. -This had resulted in an increase in business: Companies started to grow as to provide products to the ever-growing people. Industries such as textiles, furniture, and art. Workers got to find jobs, that the may not have otherwise. Small cities started to grow in to cities. Various Lords start to loose power as the Feudal system looses power.

Plague: -Workers or peasants who worked for the various Lords thought that the may be able to find better jobs somewhere else, especially Italy. Then the Lords who lost their workers, went to Italy as well. So with this lack of farming goods, people started to starve, and when the first plague went through, millions died in England, France, etc, while Italy flourished.

Mountains: -The mountains in Northern Italy provided protection from invaders from the North. This made Italy safe, so that allowed stability, and for economy and peace to flourish in Italy.

Power: -The growth of Italian cities, may also be due to the fact that the power that resided in the church, started to slowly waned away. -Oligarchy: Only a few people hold the power in the government. Despot: A leader with the ultimate power, a tyrant or a dictator. Papacy: The Pope and the government of the Roman Catholic Church. -The people and their representives hold most of the Italian cities started off as various Republic 's, which is a form of government in which the power. But later near the 1400's the republics crumbled and Oligarchies, or Despots took power. As fighting began in Italy, the economy dimmed but was recovered thanks to the Treaty of Lodi in 1454, as Milan and a city called Naples formed an alliance with Florence, and Venice was supported by the Papacy. This way, no city could be powerful enough to threaten or take over another city. This allowed for more growth, as war and fight subsided.

Diplomacy: - The Italians also started to send ambassadors to various countries, this allowed the Italy to keep peace with different countries, and be in their "good books." This was the start of diplomacy (for example if you're two friends asks which of their painting is better, you can be diplomatic by stating both of them are very good and their is no clear winner).

Other Powers: -Timbuktu: This was one of the very important, religious educational, and cultural countries. For example the University of Timbuktu, had twenty-five thousand students. Knowledge was held here, and once it made it's way into Europe it was one of the sparks which lit the spark for the Renaissance. -Cuzco: This was the most powerful empire in South America having a population of twelve- million. This civilization was full of great architectural achievements, temples, buildings, paved roads and garden with gold!

Summary:

When cities started to develop, and grow, this caused a changing worldview because during this time Italy witnessed it's one of it's most prosperous times ever. Italy started to acquire money to buy, experiment, study, other ideas, allowing people to invent and change the way people live. Also with an increase in wealth and power, Italy could start moving around the world, and contacting other groups, getting their ideas, and to trade with those countries as well. Also with the sending out of diplomats, Italy was able to have a representative of themselves in every country, to maintain a good friendship, to spy, and to make sure that Italy won't be excluded in any treaties or deals, and to make sure that Italy always has their say.