Life in A Renaissance City “…the most varied forms of human development are found united in the history of Florence, which in this sense deserves the name of the first modern State in the world, “ (Burckhardt) Florence was the birthplace of the renaissance and the perfect example of a renaissance city. The city was founded during the Roman Empire but didn’t become important until the time of the renaissance. They had guilds, the patronage system, spectacular architecture, and was the home to some of the most important and influential renaissance figures and artists. (Beers