Italy Merchant Class

Prior to the rise of the merchant class and the devastating effects of the Bubonic Plague, Italy’s classes were Knights and Lords, Clergy, and peasants. Because of Italy’s location on the Mediterranean Sea, it was an optimal trade route for many merchants. As more and more merchants travelled through Italy, a new class was formed; the merchant class. Merchants did not fit in the class structure of Italian life, so they were often looked down upon. But, as more and more merchants travelled through Italy, cities started to form along the coast, which was adverse to the self sufficient feudal societies of traditional Italy. As cities began to grow, peasants moved away from their lords to the cities in search of new economic and social opportunity.