Page 26 - All About History - Issue 33-15

Trade

FRIENDSINHIGHPLACES COMPASS

INFLUENTIAL ALLIES FOR WHEN A SWORD ALWAYSINTHERIGHTPLACEATTHERIGHTTIME
ISN’T PROTECTION ENOUGH Agoodmerchantknewthebesttraderoutes.
Venicewasthecityofchoiceformanymerchants
It was probably wise to stay clear of family
whoutiliseditsEuropeanandAsiantradeinthe
politics but if dragged into it, it was best to
HolyRomanandByzantineEmpires.Competition
befriend the powerful. Italy was a collection
wasfierceandamerchantwouldhavetobeonhis
of independent city-states all vying for power,
toestogethisnoseaheadofrivals.
and securing a deal with a powerful family or
political party could set a merchant up for life.

CRUSADERCONTACTS
MAKINGMONEYOUTINTHEHOLYLAND
SAVINGS The Crusades were still raging in the 13th
centuryandItalianmerchantsdidtheirbest
PREPARINGFORTHEWORST toexploittheconflictfortheirowngain.The
sheeramountofsoldiersandhorsesgoingeast
Badharvestsandthespreadofdisease
required many ships, so each merchant would
couldstrikeatanytime,soawisemerchant
driveahardbargainfortransportandsupplies.
wouldmakesurehisearningsweresafe.
Also,traderswouldbereadytoupsticksat
anytimeascentresoftradeshiftedbetween
city-statesandexpeditionswentfurther
into Asia.

THE MERCHANTFASHION

Anatomy LOOKING SHARP FOR BUSINESS
A trusted and successful merchant would dress
of the best he could when in the company of clients.
The wealthy aside, 13th century fashion was very
plain and very simple. Men and women dressed
similarly and would wear tunics and linen shirts
AVENETIAN with braies (trousers) or leggings.

MERCHANT SWORD

DEFENCEWASAPRIORITYIN
ITALY, 13TH CENTURY 13TH-CENTURY ITALY

Italywasdividedintofactionssoitwas
imperativethatatraderprotectedhimself
fromanyrivalsthatwouldtryandstealhis
bootyortakehisship.Daggersandswords
wereusuallythebestwaytokeep
amerchantinonepiece.

SPICES AVOID BLACK DEATH LIKE THE PLAGUE

IDEAL FOR TRADE WITH OTHER REALMS DISEASE COULD BE JUST AROUND THE CORNER
VenicehadgreatlinkstotheIslamicworld,whichwaskeento Due to its trade, Venice became one of the largest cities in
tradewithitsWesterncounterparts.Textiles,spices,grain,wine Europe. However, a high population with a continuous influx of
andsaltwerepopularcommodities.Thisindustrywasoneof
©KevinMcGivern themostimportantonthewholeoftheItalianpeninsulaand Plague constantly affected Europe throughout the Middle Ages
oversees traders meant the threat of plague was never far away.
onlybecamemoreprosperouswiththeMarcoPoloSilkRoute.
and would cripple many industries.
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