Question

In Italy, growing towns developed into independent ________-__________. Each consisted of a power city and the surrounding territory, which might include other towns.

Answer 1

In Italy, the growing towns developed into independent 'city-states', encompassing a central city and its surrounding lands. These were significantly shaped during the Roman period and later the medieval period when urbanization and the decline of feudalism contributed to their development.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Italy, growing towns developed into independent city-states. Each consisted of a powerful city and the surrounding territory, which might include other towns. Historical records indicate that during the Roman Empire, colonies were modeled closely on the Roman constitution, involving magistrates, councils, and assemblies. Colonists enjoyed full Roman citizenship, being extensions of Rome itself. The municipium was another important concept, initially a community of non-citizens and later evolved to signify a community of citizens after Roman citizenship was extended to all of Italy.

Literature suggests that historical Italy, particularly from the 11th to the 13th centuries, witnessed the rise of population and emergence of huge cities, such as Venice, Florence, and Milan, amidst significant urbanization and an agrarian revolution that led to the decline of feudalism and rise of these city-states. The term 'city-state' is defined as an independent political entity consisting of a city and the surrounding territory it controls.