In the Renaissance period Venice and Florence played an important role in the region and Europe as a hole. The main reason is what made Venice and Florence so different from other European countries. Unlike feudal Europe that was divided in many small feudal states within bigger ones, Venice and Florence remained undividable and officially they were republics while the vast majority of European states of 14th-15th centuries were still monarchies. This is why these states were so different from others and significantly similar to one another. However even thought officially both states said they were republics they did not apply democratic principles in the execution of the state. Neither Venice nor Florence provided their citizens with equal opportunities to participate in the governing of the two states. In reality, both republics were far from democracy and were more oligarchic republics than democratic ones. All the real power in both Venice and Florence were in the hands of a limited circle of
In the Renaissance period Venice and Florence played an important role in the region and Europe as a hole. The main reason is what made Venice and Florence so different from other European countries. Unlike feudal Europe that was divided in many small feudal states within bigger ones, Venice and Florence remained undividable and officially they were republics while the vast majority of European states of 14th-15th centuries were still monarchies. This is why these states were so different from others and significantly similar to one another. However even thought officially both states said they were republics they did not apply democratic principles in the execution of the state. Neither Venice nor Florence provided their citizens with equal opportunities to participate in the governing of the two states. In reality, both republics were far from democracy and were more oligarchic republics than democratic ones. All the real power in both Venice and Florence were in the hands of a limited circle of