Storiascopio · Era 8 of 12 · lower secondary year 1
The Italian communes
about 1100 · Central and northern Italy (for example Pisa, Genoa, Milan)
In short
In many towns of central and northern Italy the richest and most active citizens decided to govern themselves, without obeying the bishop or the count. So the communes were born, led at first by elected consuls and later by a podestà, a chief magistrate often called in from another town so that he would be fair. Each commune had its town hall, its own laws and an army of citizens. Rivalries between neighbouring communes were fierce and often led to war.
Why it matters In the communes, many citizens took part in governing their own town for the first time.
Source: Treccani, entry “Comune”
Where we are in the era “Late Middle Ages”
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about 1050Event 6 of 251429
Your turn
Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________
When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:
Tell it in your own words: what happened?
Draw the scene below.
storiascopio.com/en/event/the-italian-communes/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class