A great rivalship existed between Pisa and Amalfi in the twelfth century, arising chiefly from commercial jealousy; and this rivalship leading to war, Amalfi was twice taken and pillaged by the Pisans, who, indeed, during the zenith of their power, had repeatedly triumphed over the Saracens of Africa and Spain.  Amalfi, however, soon recovered; but we possess no memorials of her commerce after this period, which deserve insertion here.  Her maritime laws, the date of which is uncertain, seem to have been generally adopted by the Italian states.

Towards the end of the twelfth century, the power and commerce of Pisa were at their height:  it partook, with Genoa and Venice, of the advantages derived from the trade of Constantinople.  In the beginning of the next century, however, we find it became a mere auxiliary of Venice.  Its subsequent wars with Genoa, and the factions which arose within its walls, reduced its commerce so low, about the middle of the fourteenth century, that nothing respecting it worthy of notice occurs after this period.

The wealth derived by Florence from a traffic in money has been already noticed.  The example of this city was followed by Asti, an inland town of Piedmont, Milan, Placentia, Sienna, Lucca, &c.  Hence the name of Lombard, or Tuscan merchant, was given to all who engaged in money transactions.  The silk manufacture was the principal one in Italy; it seems to have been introduced by the Venetians, when they acquired part of the Greek empire.  In the beginning of the fourteenth century, Modena was the principal seat of this manufacture; soon afterwards Florence, Lucca, Milan, and Bologna, likewise engaged in it.

Within the period to which the present chapter is confined, there are few traces of commerce in any other parts of Europe besides the Italian states and the Hanseatic League:  the former monopolizing the commerce of the south of Europe and of Asia, and the latter that of the north of Europe, particularly of the Baltic, engrossed among them and the cities which were advantageously situated for intermediate depots, nearly all the trade that then existed.  There are, however, a few notices of commercial spirit and enterprize in other parts of Europe, during this period, which must not be omitted.

In Domesday-book a few particulars are set down relating to the internal and foreign trade of England.  In Southwark the king had a duty on ships coming into a dock, and also a toll on the Strand.  Gloucester must have enjoyed some manufactures of trade in iron, as it was obliged to supply iron and iron rods for the king’s ships.  Martins’ skins were imported into Chester, either from Iceland or Germany.  The navigation of the Trent and the Fosse, and the road to York, were carefully attended to.