Final answer:
The geographic location of Florence, Italy had a significant impact on the growth of the merchant class in Europe. Florence became a major mercantile center and its production of cloth drove its economy, attracting merchants and creating a wealthy and influential merchant class. Additionally, Florence's location and access to trade routes and ports facilitated the expansion of trade and the development of a network economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The geographic location of Florence, Italy had a significant impact on the growth of the merchant class in Europe. Firstly, Florence became a major mercantile center in the 15th century. The city's production of cloth drove its economy, attracting merchants and creating a wealthy and influential merchant class.
Secondly, Florence's location in Northern Italy, along with its access to trade routes and ports, allowed it to prosper economically. The city's connections with other Mediterranean ports and the Hanseatic League of northern Europe facilitated the expansion of trade and the development of a network economy.