Sociales 17

Commerce began to grow with the bourgeoisie trading various products such as textiles, dairy, fish, vegetables, and more in fairs to meet people's needs.

During the Crusades, Italians dominated Mediterranean trade offering unique goods from the Middle and Far East, including sought-after Muslim products like silks and spices.

Trade routes to the East included sea routes from ports like Genoa and Venice, as well as land routes connecting different parts of Europe, facilitating the exchange of goods like fabrics, spices, and luxury items.

Caravans of merchants traveled to protect their goods, facing the challenge of using diverse currencies in different regions, leading to the development of banking services like letters of credit and checks.

Specialized companies called banks emerged to facilitate financial services like currency exchange and lending, initially provided by Jewish moneylenders but later accepted by Christians after the church allowed lending for profit.

The rise of commerce led to societal changes, including the shift from feudalism to urbanization as cities grew with increased trade, creating opportunities for workers and merchants, altering the power dynamics between the monarchy and nobility.

Urban centers thrived with the influx of workers seeking better opportunities, leading to economic growth, the enrichment of merchants, and the emergence of universities as hubs for knowledge dissemination and language studies.