What is one major difference between the renaissance in italy and in northern europe?
The Italian cities were richer during the Renaissance for a few reasons. First, the Italians had recently invented double-entry bookkeeping, which made their businesses much more efficient. The were also the first Christian bankers in Europe who charged interest, so they accumulated capital better. Thirdly, nearly all intercontinental trade at the time came through the Mediterranean Sea, and the Italians dominated those trade routes. The result of all this money was that Italians were able to afford more patronage of artists, architects and scientists to enrich their society. Western Europe eventually caught up by modernizing their finances and opening new trade routes to the orient around Africa, and the New World, leaving the Italians in the dust.
