You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
Despite being at the forefront of industry, organization, and finance around the 13-16th centuries the various Italian states stagnated economically due to foreign taxation, war, poor administration, the failure of city state polities to scale to size, and shifting international trade.
Challenge create a POD that leads to an earlier Italian industrialization and maintain the relative Italian standard of living within Europe.
Resources available in Italy:
Iron deposits on Elba islands.
Uneconomical coal deposits in Sardinia.
Marble.
Alum deposits in Rome. (dye deposit discovered in the 16th century)
Relatively more population and pre-existing capital/infrastructure during the 14-15th century.