Venice was a commercial centre of primar importance. Luxury goods travelled from Asia to Europe, arriving in the lagoon. In the modern age there was a relative decline in the power of Venice, but goods still arrived in the city from all over the world, ready to be spread to continental Europe. In this episode, you'll hear about: the concept of merchants, the Fondaco, glass, velvet and cosmetics.[Authors: Valeria Nicoletta Albanese, Giulia Delogu, Charlotte Margareta Köhler, Hanya Kotb, Nadezda Tsarkova and Oana Cosmina Vidra.Music: Rise by Artur Aravidi; Soothing Serenade by Universfield (from Freemusicarchive.org)