The Two Italies

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The book explores the economic dynamics of twelfth-century Italy, focusing on the interconnected commercial interests of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily and the maritime ports of Genoa, Pisa, and Venice. Utilizing largely untapped archival sources, it details how northern Italian merchants sought to expand their influence in Sicily through agreements with Norman rulers and other powers. The text highlights Sicily's role as a key exporter of wheat and cotton, illustrating a division between an agrarian south and an industrializing north, driven by the exploitation of southern resources.