How did merchant class in Northern Italy influence the Renaissance?
The merchant class in Northern Italy invented the idea of banks. When the Italians traveled to other parts of Europe, they brought with them their idea of banking. They would sit on a bench in the center of a city or village and run their banking business. The Italian word for bench is bancho (or something similar) hence, the word bank. So the Italians spread their idea of banking and money, which replaced the traditional practice of trading or bargaining. Therefore, people used banks and currency in the Renaissance era..
