Trade and commerce in the Renaissance
Trade was a major part of life in the Renaissance. It allowed for the exchange of ideas from place to place and culture to culture as merchants and visitors mingled as well as added to the wealth of many trading city-states. The economy of many city-states, such as Florence, was flexible and included many guilds for different jobs. Common careers included the making of wool cloth, lawyers, and bankers. The city of Florence was made extremely wealthy by banking and became a hub of it in Europe. Almost all of the trade in a city-state occurred in markets, some of which were clean and orderly and some of which were dirty and chaotic. The main currency during the Renaissance was the florin, and this coin originated in Florence but was widely accepted throughout Europe. The wealth that was accumulated as a result of the flourishing trade was often spent on artwork or new buildings. Wealthy citizens could afford to be patrons to artists and support them, which in turn led to beautiful artwork during the Renaissance. Trade and commerce were crucial to the many advancements made during this time period. If trading had been unsuccessful or struggling, much of what was done during the Renaissance would never have happened.
The Mercato Nuovo of Florence is still in use today. It was the "New Market" and was the nicer of Florence's two markets.
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A Renaissance florin (front and back.)
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