At the time of the Renaissance, Italy was not a unified country but a collection of city-states, each ruled independently. These city-states were primarily centered in wealthy urban areas and were often controlled by powerful families or oligarchies. Some of the notable city-states during this period include Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples, and Genoa. Each city-state had its own government, laws, and ruling class. Despite being politically fragmented, these city-states competed and thrived culturally, economically, and artistically, making Italy the epicenter of the Renaissance.