At the beginning of the period that we call the Renaissance, many cities may have seemed very much alike. Most had similar economic structures, architecture, and trades. But some cities in Italy, especially Florence, were different: " The towns often had Roman origins, and to a degree survived the social disorder of the barbarian invasions of the earlier middle ages. Not only was physical infrastructure often in place, but also the glue

Guilds of craftsmen who no doubt contributed "new" ideas in how things were made and how the city functioned during the Renaissance also focused heavily on Christianity. "Each guild participated in the major religious holidays of the city, and each had responsibility of the feast day of its specific patron saint." (13). Florentines were extremely proud people. They strived for supremacy and obviously believed they were superior to other cultural centers of the time. "While Florence had more than fifty parish churches, all children were brought to the Baptistery for what was, in effect, a double baptism, as a Christian and as a Florentine." (28). This is especially interesting because it demonstrates well how these people kept an important foundation (religious ceremony and tradition) and incorporated it into something new (the importance of being a member o

Some common words found in the essay are:
Expansion Florence, John Baptist, Julius Caesar, Christian Florentine, Christianity Religion, Roman Florence, Florentine Renaissance, patron saint, roman origins,
Approximate Word count = 581
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)