The Italian City-States were independent regions in Italy during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, roughly from the 9th to the 16th centuries. Major city-states included Florence, Venice, Genoa, and Milan. Each city-state operated like a small country, with its own government, economy, and culture, often competing with one another for power and trade. These city-states were centers of art, commerce, and politics, fostering the growth of Renaissance culture. Wealthy families, such as the Medici in Florence, played significant roles in supporting artists and thinkers, leading to advancements in art, science, and philosophy that shaped European history.