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Analyze causes of the growth of interregional trade in luxury goods during the period 600 C.E. to 1450 C.E.

User Don Lun
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Final answer:

Between 600 C.E. and 1450 C.E., growth in interregional trade of luxury goods was driven by Europeans' increased demand for Eastern luxury items post-Crusades, the establishment of new trade routes and commercial infrastructures, and cultural exchanges that spurred knowledge and interest in direct trade relations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The period between 600 C.E. and 1450 C.E. was marked by significant growth in interregional trade of luxury goods. Several factors contributed to this expansion. The desire for luxury goods, particularly from the East, surged among European elites following the Crusades, which introduced them to new products. Additionally, the development of new trade routes and markets, such as those through the Byzantine Empire and Arab lands, increased accessibility to luxury goods for European consumers.

Improved commercial infrastructure, including the inventions of double-entry bookkeeping and joint stock companies, promoted the efficiency and scale of trade. Financial centers, like Florence, facilitated international trade with the introduction of standardized currencies. Intermediaries, who controlled the trade of goods such as silk, spices, and gold, further expanded trade networks while kingdoms benefited from monopoly practices.

Cultural factors also played a role. The wealthy merchant cities of Italy actively sought knowledge about distant civilizations, leading figures like Marco Polo to explore further into Asia and strengthen trade relations. As a whole, these factors synthesized to create a prosperous environment for the trade of luxury goods, influencing patterns of global exchange and setting the stage for later global trade developments.

User Cesarmart
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