ABSTRACT
The commercial cities of early modern Europe contained buildings that were used specifically by merchants engaged in international trade and finance. The commercial network was based on the harbours, on the role of the most important European cities and on the existence of buildings in London and Antwerp similar to those in Venice. The Antwerp building, which was the site of the most dynamic market in Europe, had a widespread influence, most directly on London and then on Amsterdam. In Amsterdam, which by 1600 was taking on many of the commercial functions of Antwerp as a consequence of the submission of the revolt in the southern Netherlands, this kind of activity became very important. More than 400 commodity prices were listed in the weekly price bulletins which Amsterdam had regularly sent to other places in Europe since 1585. The floor over the portico housed luxury shops and the markets dealing in money and stock.
