History Final

Why Italy stayed divided

Italy remained divided because there was no central monarchy like in France. Wealthy city-states such as Florence, Venice, and Milan were economically independent and controlled by local elites. Geography and rivalry between states prevented unification and maintained a balance of power.

Why Florence used condottieri + problems

Florence used condottieri because they were professional, trained mercenaries more effective than militias. However, they were expensive, loyal to money rather than the state, could switch sides, and often avoided decisive battles, making warfare unreliable and politically dangerous.

Why Italian Wars were a turning point

The Italian Wars marked the loss of Italian independence as France and Spain fought over the peninsula. Divided Italian states could not resist, leading to foreign domination, economic disruption, and Italy becoming a battleground for European powers.

 Why 1494 invasion was a turning point in warfare

The French invasion of 1494 introduced mobile artillery, disciplined infantry, and faster tactics under Charles VIII. These made Italian defenses and condottieri ineffective, marking the shift from medieval warfare to modern gunpowder-based warfare in Europe.

 North vs South Italy difference

Northern Italy consisted of wealthy, independent city-states driven by trade and republican governments, while Southern Italy was ruled by monarchy such as the Kingdom of Naples, with centralized royal authority and less political participation.

Machiavelli on mercenaries

Machiavelli argued mercenaries were dangerous because they were disloyal, fought for money, and avoided real combat. He believed they weakened states and proposed instead a citizen army based on Roman models to ensure loyalty and military strength.

 Cosimo I de’ Medici

Cosimo I strengthened power through a standing army, centralised government, and territorial expansion. He also used art and architecture as propaganda to legitimise his rule and present himself as a strong, stable ruler of Tuscany.

Banquets

Renaissance banquets were political performances that displayed wealth, hierarchy, and power. They reinforced social order through seating and ceremony, showing that food and spectacle were tools of political influence rather than just dining.

 Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci combined art and engineering, applying scientific observation to both. He designed weapons and military machines while also producing masterpieces, showing how Renaissance thinking merged creativity, science, and warfare

Architecture as propaganda

Architecture communicated political power by displaying strength, order, and legitimacy. Buildings like Castel Nuovo in Naples symbolised authority through scale and design, showing rulers used architecture to visually reinforce control over society.

 Pazzi Conspiracy

The Pazzi Conspiracy was an assassination attempt against Lorenzo de’ Medici involving rival families and the Church. It failed, strengthening Medici control and showing how political violence and rivalry shaped unstable Florentine politics.