Political and commercial relations of the Byzantine Empire with the Italian city states (XI-XIII. centuries)

The Byzantine Empire established political and commercial relations with the Italian City States, which they first met and patronized in the VI. century, from patronage to alliance and partnership over time. While the commercial privileges granted by the Byzantine Empire to the Italians constituted a burden on the Empire, they also gave the Italians the opportunity to carry their trade around the Adriatic to the Eastern Mediterranean. Italians, whose only source of income was maritime, benefited this situation and they became acquainted with the Eastern Mediterranean trade. The Crusades brought about a period that affected the fate of the Byzantine Empire and the Italian City States. On the one hand, the Italians became rich in short time with the privileges they received from the Crusade states established in the region and Egypt, on the other hand, the decline of the Byzantine Empire's dominance and trade in the region was witnessed. This situation accurately summarizes the relationship that continued between the XI-XIII. centuries. Italian City States used the Crusades to their advantage and became dominant in the Eastern Mediterranean trade with the colonies they established in the region. During this period, Italians, who were the main actors of the Eastern Mediterranean trade, acted as intermediaries in the transfer of commercial products from various geographies, especially from Far East, to Europe. This intermediary system also improved with banking and credit systems and contributed to the development and expansion of regional trade.