THIS WAS LIMITED TO UNDER 500 words--and WAS AN ESSAY ANSWER (TIMED) FOR A MIDTERM EXAM Question: Describe the importance of the Renaissance in Italy. Answer: The Renaissance, literally the "rebirth," was just that to Italy. As the Middle Ages came to a close, so too did the overshadowing gloom finally subsidize in Italy--and eventually Europe. The new view on human existence spread like wild fire and spawned a rekindled "secular" approach that embraced the Individualist …showed first 75 words of 440 total…

…showed last 75 words of 440 total…French--they scrambled to hire condottieri (private for-hire armies) to protect their interest. However, these mercenary armies owed loyalty to no specific city-state, and as the city-states began internal conflicts and armies fought whenever and for whomever they pleased, the same door that creaked open to challenge the Roman church now flew open as both Spain and France looked to reap the benefits of a divided Italy with nothing but unfaithful mercenary armies to protect itself.