Question

1. Describe how cities brought about change at the dawn of the Renaissance.

Answer 1

During the Renaissance the cities of Italy were (especially in the north) were the largest in Europe, their culture the most urban. The other major states of Europe (such as Spain, France and England) were still much more agricultural in nature and their cities were much smaller. The one exception perhaps is the single city of Constantinople (Istanbul) which by the 15th century was on its last leg and was conquered by the Turks in 1453. Furthermore, in comparison to the Islamic cities such as Grenada, Baghdad and Alexandria even the largest European cities of Italy were much smaller than the those of the Islamic Empire(s).