“The wealth of Italian cities was the most significant factor in the development of the Renaissance.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the importance of wealth in the development of the Renaissance. Candidates may focus on the comparative importance of a range of Italian cities such as Florence and Milan and assess the significance of their wealth against a range of other factors, for example, the Church, the role of individuals and/or the classical heritage. Wealth allowed for investment in the arts and encouraged originality. Rivalry between the cities also encouraged support for the arts, as rulers commissioned works of art to enhance pride in their cities. There may be some discussion of the role of the Church in commissioning artists. Proximity to the remains of classical antiquity may be considered vital as many ideas were taken from the classical past. The importance of individual artists might be discussed, as it was their innovations that stimulated development.