Tuscany and SienaThe central region of Tuscany includes the following provinces:? Arezzo, Grosseto, Florence, Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, and Siena.? The total area of ​​this region is 8,877 square miles. A chorological history of Tuscany The word Tuscany derives from the Tusci, Tuscans or Etruscans.? Etruria (their country) once included Tuscany and the northern part of Lazio.? Charlemagne occupied northern Italy in the 8th century AD, at which time the name Tuscia or Tuscany was limited to the area.? The counts of Lucca then used the region as a border district.1 In the 10th century the Attoni family of Canossa came to power.? After this period the prosperous cities began to assert their independence; the rise of municipalities in Italy had begun.? In Tuscany the first municipalities were Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia, as well as Siena, Florence and Arezzo.? After the death of Matilda of Canossa (descendant of the House of Attoni of Canossa) in 1115, a struggle for the region ensued between the popes and the emperors.? As a result, the Tuscan cities further confirmed their independence.2 In the 12th and 13th centuries, Pisa, supported by Siena and Pistoia, was contested by Florence, Lucca and Genoa.? After being defeated by Genoa, Florence became the main city of Tuscany.? In Florence, the standard form of Italian was developing through the Tuscan dialect of that region.3 The Medici dynasty then ruled Florence for much of subsequent medieval history.? The Medici were the most powerful family in Italy and had earned their wealth in banking.4? The most famous of the Medici is Loreno the Magnificent, or Lorenzo the Magnificent.? During his government, he continued to support the atmosphere...... middle of paper ......d.? P. 33.8 Ibid.? P. 34.9-10 Italy:? Tuscany.?? The new Encyclopedia Britannica.? 15th edition.? 1992.? P. 253.11-13 ?Ibid.? P. 253.14-15 ?Ibid.? P. 254.16 Jepson, Tim.? The National Geographic Traveler:? Florence and Tuscany.? Willard, Ohio: ? RR Donnelley & Sons.? 2001.? P. 194.17-18 Ibid.? P. 196.19 Ibid.? P. 204.20 Ibid.? P. 194-195.21 Ibid.? P. 204.22? Ibid.? P. 10,23-24 Ibid.? P. 227.25 Ibid.? P. 232.26-27 Ibid.? P. 266.28-29 Ibid.? P. 274.30 Ibid.? P. 275.31 Ibid.? P. 49. Further notable sources: Bethemont, Jacques and Jean Pelletier.? Italy:? A geographical introduction.? New York:? Longmann.? 1983.Hook, Judith.? Siena:? A city and its history.? London:? Hamish Hamilton.? 1979.Schevill, Ferdinand.? Siena:? The history of a medieval municipality.? New York, New York:? Harper.? 1937.