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Renaissance Trade

Trade became very important during the Renaissance because Italy had few natural resources. During this time
period there was a great demand for products that were not produced in Italy or were produced in insufficient
quantities. The most important commodity at this time was grain, and there were always grain shortages. The
shortages often resulted in famine. Grain was widely grown, but it was in short supply because of repeated crop
failure and the demand created by the heavily populated cities. These cities often needed more grain than could be
produced by local farmers. Before long, the constant shortages forced Italy to develop long distance trade.
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Unfortunately, it took up to a year to transport grain from eastern to western Europe.
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 Spurred on by the enormous demand, the Italians were forced to go as far away as Scandinavia for grain. The
Scandinavian (Baltic region) grain was controlled by the Hanseatic(Hansa) League, which was an organization of
trade cities in northern Europe. The Hansa also had control of all of the agricultural fields of Germany and
Poland. In addition to grain the Italians acquired lumber, honey, furs, and iron from the Hansa. In return, the
Hansa imported ships loaded with the finest of Italian textiles. At this time the textile manufacturing centers were
in Flanders and northern Italy. Cotton that was needed by these centers were supplied by England, Ireland, and
Spain.

From the 10th century onward, Mediterranean Sea

trade was controlled by merchants in Genoa and
Venice. These merchants transported goods from
Asia by way of overland routes that led directly to
Byzantine ports. After arriving in Byzantium, the
goods were sent by ship to Italy and other countries.
As time passed the Venetian merchants took control
of the Byzantine ports militarily. Soon afterward,
these merchants made a fortune by importing spices,
silk, and other luxury items.

The Ottoman Empire controlled the trade routes to

Asia, and they insisted in collecting taxes from each
passing caravan. Great expenses, steep taxes, and the
constant fear of bandits fueled the demand for a sea
route to Asia. In 1492, Christopher Columbus was in
search of shorter trade routes when he discovered
America. Then just six years later, world trade
broadened even further when Vasco de Gama reached
India. These two discoveries gave the ports on the
Atlantic Ocean a huge advantage over the Italians.

From the Americas, Europe imported Native American slaves, potatoes, sugar, tomatoes, corn, tobacco, and
chocolate. Europe also imported huge amounts of gold and silver from the Americas. These enormous amounts of
gold and silver were squandered by Spain on numerous futile wars. This constant pumping of precious metals
fueled inflation across Europe. As a result prices soared in Renaissance France and Italy.

During the 16th century Renaissance trade expanded to every corner of the world. At this time Venice had an
enormous merchant fleet that supplied all of Europe with items from Asia and the Middle East. Venice also
became a huge manufacturing center. Among other things, they made fine silk textiles and glass. They also
became the largest ship manufacturing center in the world. Their enormous shipyard was called Arsenale.
Arsenale was where ships were both repaired and constructed. More than 16,000 men worked here.

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