HIS109Y1 Lecture Notes - Aristocracy, Conspicuous Consumption, Merchant Prince
Document Summary
Rise of mercantile economy challenged the old order spurred long distance trade (cid:223) new class of society merchants possess power and education necessary to be successful. Italy centre of the roman empire (cid:223) Rome and other italian cities: not only mercantile (trade) centers, but also ecclesiastical (religious) centers enormous amounts of money are generated and passing thorough city. Rome and italy in general were not conquered by barbarians, therefore did not have necessity to establish feudalism had options. Pope vs emperor two major forces (guelphs and ghibellines) much more expressed in italy. 1095 first crusade italy: advantageous position, skills of navigation (cid:223) brought in more coin to italy than any other country rapid growth of towns expansion of the banking system. Florence (enemy city - piza) grew rich not through crusades, but through trade: high quality (cid:223) Guelph city pope used florentine banks dyed. Florence took payments and taxations in raw materials monopoly on high quality raw materials.
