Medieval Finance

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.

Explore how cultural obstacles hindered the emergence of European banking in the late Middle Ages, despite significant economic and social changes.

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.