Eastern Mediterranean

• • Genoa and Venice engaged in commercial rivalry and sometimes outright warfare since the twelfth century
  • They were the primary drivers of trade in the Mediterranean Sea, linking various ports
• • Constantinople was a crucial hub due to its location bridging Asia and Europe and connecting the Mediterranean with the Black Sea
• • Constantinople was renowned for producing high-quality silk and gold brocades
  • The city facilitated trade between the Black Sea and the western end of the northern passage at the port of Kaffa
  • Kaffa became a major slave market in Europe, with Genoans and Venetians trading with Mongols, primarily dealing in Russian and Ukrainian slaves