ABSTRACT
The Age of Exploration introduced dramatic changes to Europeans’ worldview, as well as to the economic conditions and geopolitical relations across their continent. As the Spanish Empire grew in wealth and power, and came into conflict with the territorial ambitions of France, Italy was caught in the cross-hairs. Lacking unity amongst themselves, and subject to the political scheming of the pope, the small, independent Italian states were at the mercy of the troops of Emperor Charles V when they invaded Italy and sacked Rome in 1527. Contemporary Italian observers such as Francesco Guicciardini and Baldassarre Castiglione reacted to the tragic events, assessing the damage as best they could. As the Italian states lost their capacity for self-determination, largely falling under the control of foreign powers, many political and social adjustments had to be made. The impact of these changes would have a deep impact and lasting effects on the course of Italian history.
