This was still the cultural heart of Europe. Renaissance Italy, with immensely wealthy cities such as Florence, Rome and Venice, was the model in art, architecture, music and fashion, although in literature it was now equaled, at least, by the works of Montaigne in France, Shakespeare in England and de Cervantes in Spain, to mention only three. The Italian states were among the richest in Europe but, like the states of the Holy Roman Empire, they were politically weak because they were disunited. The disunity frequently led to war between them.

N.B. The prosperity and riches of many of the states in Italy and the Holy Roman Empire, in addition to their political weakness, made them tempting and easy prey for the politically stronger states in Europe. They were frequently the major battlefields of Europe (like dogs fighting for a bone).