Medieval Studies

Explore the complexities of Florentine finance during the 13th century, including forced loans, usury, and compensation for compulsory investments.

The 14th century saw the rise and fall of medieval finance, with moneylenders like Bardi and Peruzzi dominating Italian commerce before facing defaults and collapse.

The advent of modern finance in Northern Italy is a pivotal moment in European economic history, marked by the introduction of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system.

Explore how Roman coinage persisted after the empire fell, shaping European trade and commerce in the Middle Ages.