Bellringer

• Take your p. 557 questions out for HW check!• Answer the following question:– The Black Death killed 1/3 of Europe’s population

in the late Middle Ages. What positive outcomes do you think this had? List as many as you can think of!

Main Idea 1:Increased trade with Asia brought wealth to

Italian trade cities, leading to the Renaissance.

After the end of the Black Death, the economy of Europe began to grow again. Goods became available, people bought more, and trade increased.

Trade with Asia

• In the 1200s, the Mongols took over China. They made roads safe again, including the Silk Road, a trade route between Europe and China.

• Traders and travelers began to use the routes again. One famous trader was Marco Polo, who traveled with his family. Some of their journeys went over the Silk Road.

• When the Polos arrived in China, they met the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. The Polos spent 20 years in Asia.

• A writer helped Polo record his journey. Descriptions about Asia made Europeans curious, and they desired Asian goods.

Silk Road

The Trading Cities of Italy

• Four northern Italian cities became trading centers.– Florence– Genoa– Milan– Venice

• The cities of Milan and Florence were manufacturing centers. Venice and Genoa were port cities on the Mediterranean Sea, where the goods and services flowed.

• Milan produced weapons and silk. Florence was a center for weaving wool into cloth.

Connect!

• 1. What was the Silk Road?• 2. Why was Marco Polo’s journey important?• 3. Without looking at your notes, try to

remember the 4 important Italian trade centers.• 4. How do you think people living in these trade

cities were affected by seeing people from other lands and hearing many different languages on the streets?

Florence• Florence stands out as an example of the great trade and wealth

coming into Italy.• Wool trade initially created wealth, but banking increased that

wealth. – Bankers kept money for merchants all over Europe and made money

by charging interest, a fee that lenders charge people who borrow money from them.

• The Medici family were the greatest of the Florence bankers.– Cosimo Medici wanted Florence to be the most beautiful city in the

world.– He also valued education and built libraries and collected books.

• The love of art and education was a key feature of a time we call the Renaissance, which means “rebirth.”