Compare and contrast the forms of government in Milan and Venice.

The question requires that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between the forms of government in Milan and Venice, referring to both city states throughout. Candidates may address the question systematically, addressing similarities and then differences, or thematically, identifying areas that shared some features but differed in others. In terms of similarities, both city states contained an oligarchy in the form of a strong nobility, and both had republican forms of governments (albeit temporarily in the case of Milan). However, while Venice had a great council and senate that challenged the (elected) Doge’s power, in Milan periods of monarchical rule dominated. Another difference was that Venice contained constitutional mechanisms and legislative procedures that Milan did not. There does not need to be an equal weighting of comparisons and contrasts.