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The Italian Renaissance was called the beginning of the modern age. The word Renaissance itself is derived from the Latin word rinascere, which means to be reborn. The Renaissance was a rebirth of culture, to put it simply. Many dramatic changes occurred during this time in the fields of philosophy, art, politics, and literature. New emphasis was placed on enjoying life and the world around you. Talented individuals sought self gratification through art, literature, and architecture, and their achievements would influence future generations for centuries to come. This great new movement was originated and centered in Italy, and without Italian contribution would never have launched European society into the dawning of a new era. At the beginning of the Renaissance, Italy was divided into some 250 self governing city-states, ranging from small towns of 2,000 individuals to some of the largest cities in Europe during that time, such as Florence, Milan, and Venice which all had about 100,000 citizens each. These city-states were loosely organized under the Pope, ruling out of Rome, although he had no real political control over the divided Italy. During the mid-1300's and early 1400's, many large Italian cities came under the contr