Regional States
During 14th century and 15th century the most powerful of these cities (Milan, Venice, Florence) were able to conquer the other weaker city-states, creating regional states. The 1454 Peace of Lodi ended their struggle for the hegemony in Italy and started a policy of balance of power (see Italian Renaissance).
At the beginning of 16th century, apart some minor city-states like Lucca or San Marino, only the republican Venice was able to preserve her independence and to match the European monarchies of France and Spain and the Ottoman Empire (see Italian Wars).
Read more about this topic: Italian City-states
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—Mary Church Terrell (1863–1954)