中世纪英国的意大利商人

Italian Merchants in Medieval England

英国中世纪晚期的崛起,其实也受到了许多外来因素的推动,14-15世纪在英国的意大利商人,就是一支积极的外来力量。他们推进和扩大了英国的羊毛和呢绒出口贸易,在财政上为英国国王提供支持,还为某些城市的繁荣兴盛做出了特殊贡献。随着英国本土经济的发展和商人阶层的成长,已然处于颓势的意大利商人势力在16世纪才逐步退出了英国。

The rising of England since the late middle ages is promoted partly by many foreign factors. The Italian merchants take active roles in the 14th and 15th century England. They encouraged and enlarged the export trades of wool and woolen cloth of England, and supported the English kings in finance. They were also contributed to prosperity of some English town such as Southampton. As the development of national economy of England and the growth of English merchant class, Italian merchants who had been in declining had to leave England from the 16th century.