<Li> Italian Wars (1494--1559) </Li> <Li> Foreign domination (1559--1814) </Li> <Li> Italian unification (1815--1861) </Li> <Tr> <Td> Modern (show) <Ul> <Li> Monarchy (1861--1945) </Li> <Li> Italy in World War I (1914--1918) </Li> <Li> Fascism and Colonial Empire (1918--1945) </Li> <Li> Italy in World War II (1940--1945) </Li> <Li> Social Republic (1943--1945) </Li> <Li> Republic (1945--present) </Li> <Li> Years of Lead (1970s--1980s) </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr>

What is a major reason the renaissance began in the italian city-states