The average person was poor, living at barely subsistance level (18), but in terms of consumer demand they differed only from the wealthy in terms of volume and extravagance (37). Economic uncertainty and the lack of complex banking systems left savings, if possible, relatively inert (42-5) until dynamic coinage systems increased the prevelance and liquidity of money (200), and the mechanisms of investment that fueled maritime trade could inject profits into the proto-industries of Europe (194-7,
The average person was poor, living at barely subsistance level (18), but in terms of consumer demand they differed only from the wealthy in terms of volume and extravagance (37). Economic uncertainty and the lack of complex banking systems left savings, if possible, relatively inert (42-5) until dynamic coinage systems increased the prevelance and liquidity of money (200), and the mechanisms of investment that fueled maritime trade could inject profits into the proto-industries of Europe (194-7,