Urban development in Renaissance Italy / Paul N. Balchin.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

List of Figures. Lit of Tables. Preface. 1. Introduction. Part 1: The Later Middle Ages. 2. The development of urban government and public patronage in the later Middle Ages. 3. Public patronage and urban development. 4. Economic development in the later Middle Ages. 5. Economic growth and the private development of the built environment. Part 2: The 15th Century. 6. Oligarchic and signorial government in the 15th century. 7. Public development and the re-emergence of classical architrecutre and town planning. 8. Population trends and economic equilibrium in the 15th century. 9. Private patronage and the re-emergence of classical architecture in the 15th century. Part 3: The 16th Century. 10. The ascendancy of principalities and Spanish rule in 16th century. 11. Public patronage, architecture and town planning from Classicism to Mannerism. 12. Economic growth and urban development in the 16th century. 13. Private patronage and architecture: affluence and conspicuous consumption. Part 4: The 17th Century. 14. The development of government in Italy in the early 17th century and its effects on the built environment. 15. Public patronage: the emergence of Baroque architecture and town planning. 16. Economic stagnation and urban development in the early 17th century. 17. Private patronage and Baroque architecture. Appendix: Principal Architects and Where They Mainly Practised. Glossary: General and Architectural Terms. Bibliography. Index.

Reinterprets the underlying causes and effects of architecture and town planning in urban Italy during one of the country's most vibrant and celebrated periods. It puts economic and political influences at center stage rather than artistic inspiration or nostalgia for the classical past.