Introduction Andrea Gamberini and Isabella Lazzarini; Part I. The Italian States: 1. The Kingdom of Sicily Fabrizio Titone; 2. The Kingdom of Naples Francesco Senatore; 3. The Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica Olivetta Schena; 4. The papal state Sandro Carocci; 5. Tuscan states: Florence and Siena Lorenzo Tanzini; 6. Ferrara and Mantua Trevor Dean; 7. Venice and the Terraferma Michael Knapton; 8. Lombardy under the Visconti and the Sforza Federico Del Tredici; 9. The feudal principalities: the west (Monferrato, Saluzzo, Savoy, Savoy-Acaia) Alessandro Barbero; 10. The feudal principalities: the east (Trent, Bressanone/Brixen, Aquileia, Tyrol and Gorizia) Marco Bellabarba; 11. Genoa, Christine Shaw; Part II. Themes and Perspectives: 12. The collapse of city-states and the role of urban centres in the new political geography of Renaissance Italy Francesco Somaini; 13. The rural communities Massimo Della Misericordia; 14. Lordships, fiefs 'small states' Federica Cengarle; 15. Factions and parties: problems and perspectives Marco Gentile; 16. State, orders and social distinction E. Igor Mineo; 17. Women and the state Serena Ferente; 18. Offices and officials Guido Castelnuovo; 19. Public written records Gian Maria Varanini; 20. The language of politics and the process of statebuilding: approaches and interpretations Andrea Gamberini; 21. Renaissance diplomacy Isabella Lazzarini; 22. Regional states and economic development Franco Franceschi and Luca Molà; 23. The papacy and the Italian states Giorgio Chittolini; 24. Justice Andrea Zorzi; Bibliography.