History of Europe

How were the Italian city states governed?

The Italian city-states were governed in a variety of ways, but the most common form of government was the commune. A commune was a city-state that was ruled by a council of citizens. The council was elected by the citizens of the city, and it was responsible for making laws, passing taxes, and declaring war.

Other forms of government that were found in the Italian city-states included the signoria, the popolo, and the republic. A signoria was a city-state that was ruled by a single individual, called a signore. A popolo was a city-state that was ruled by the people, through a popular assembly. A republic was a city-state that was ruled by a group of citizens, elected by the people.

The form of government that a city-state adopted depended on a number of factors, including its size, its history, and its social and economic structure. Some city-states were more democratic than others, while some were more authoritarian. However, all of the Italian city-states shared a common commitment to the ideals of liberty and self-government.