Milan, the ancient capital of Cisalpine Gaul, and the favorite residence of the Gothic kings, is the fifth of the Italian cities which achieved commercial distinction in the middle ages. Without a seaport, she acquired her greatness by agriculture and manufacture rather than through maritime commerce. Situated in a beautiful plain of fertile land through which coursed a tributary of the River Po, the Milanese early turned their attention to agriculture and the industrial arts. The invasion of the Huns in 899 caused the Milanese to wall in and fortify the city, and thus later it became independent of the feudal barons of northern Italy, and set up its own republican form of government. After the peace of Constance in 1184, Milan grew apace both in population and material wealth. Manufactures flourished extensively, the leading industry being the making of armor.

During her struggles with the Emperor Frederick of Germany (Frederick Red-Beard) for the preservation of Milanese independence, a powerful fraternity called the Umiliati was formed, which later became instrumental in developing the wool trade and subsequently gave the first impetus to the production of silk. From this period also date the irrigation works which render the plain about Milan a productive garden to this day. In the thirteenth century Milan was greatly retarded in her development by the turmoils of the Guelphs and the Ghibelines, the partisans of first one and then the other obtaining control of the government. In the fourteenth century the great family of Giovanni Galeazzo, one of the Visconti, became sole lord of Milan, and inaugurated a remarkable career, resembling in many respects those of the Medicis in Florence. It was under him that the Cathedral of Milan was begun in 1386. It is built of marble from the quarries which Visconti gave for the purpose. The work upon this wonderful building was continued through several centuries, and finally finished under Napoleon in 1805. After many vicissitudes and strifes, Milan, in 1500, passed under control alternately of France and Spain, and finally became a part of the Kingdom of Italy. Owing to its agricultural and manufacturing interests, it suffered less than the maritime cities of Italy by the discovery of the Cape route to India.

Gradually the seat of commercial empire shifted from the Italian cities to othej parts of Europe, north and west. The% inventions and discoveries incident to the general intellectual awakening which set in about the fifteenth century, the invention of the art of printing, the mariner's compass, the use of gunpowder, improvements in shipbuilding and in methods of finance, commerce, and law, worked changes in the established channels of trade and developed new centers of commerce. We are now to leave the Mediterranean Sea, upon, whose shores was grouped the ancient and medieval commerce and civilization of the world, and betake ourselves to other parts of Europe.