Florence was the center of humanist
thought, the cradle of early Renaissance
activity. Humanism described
a trust in human intellect, a belief
in the creative abilities and rational
capacities of human beings. The focus
of inquiry was not so much on the
next world, on the nature of God or
of heaven, but on the present context
of earthly life and on the social and
political relationships of the real world.
People’s views of nature changed accordingly.
Humanists believed that the
CITY-STATES: In 16th-century Italy,
political fragmentation led to the
establishment of independent citystates,
where identities were defi ned
regionally and power resided with
wealthy families.
divine could be perceived in the order
of nature. Gardens could be composed
to express that order, and landscapes
could be appreciated for their scenic
value. Gardens focused outward.