You're right about the antagonism - though the long run history of Europe shows plenty of that. I don't believe you're correct that because of it, citizens coul

You're right about the antagonism - though the long run history of Europe shows plenty of that. I don't believe you're correct that because of it, citizens could not travel between Italian states. Plenty of famous artists did so. I do point out that NATO and the EU are two key differences between then and now. I also compare the signorie with "elected autocrats", in that they take real power while preserving the façade of democratic or republican institutions. Does that make more sense?