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it their interest to unite against Venice, and the Genoese, by
supporting their ally with money, expelled the Venetians from
Constantinople. The imperial family was reinstated, and the Genoese
had the suburbs of Pera as a reward for their assistance. This quarter
of the city the Genoese fortified, and the Venetians were compelled to
return to their old channels by Egypt and Syria. {52}

During those contests, Florence arose, and became a rival both to
Venice and Genoa; and some degree of civilization, or, at least, a taste
for the luxuries and produce of the East was brought into the north of
Europe by those who returned from the crusades. The consumption of
Asiatic produce in the North, occasioned depots to be established, and
Bruges and Antwerp became to the north, what Venice and Genoa
were to the south of Europe. The Hans Towns rose to wealth and
opulence just about that period; but the effects of wealth acquired by
commerce in the north were found to be different from what they had
been in southern climates. Italy was going to decay, while three of its
cities were increasing in splendour; but, in the north, the riches
acquired by the cities set industry at work: manufactures were
improved, and affluence and the comforts of life became more
generally diffused than they had ever before been, or than they are in
the southern countries even at the present day.

While Constantinople was thus rivalling the cities of Italy, a new
revolution took place there, which overturned the Greek empire, and
established that of the Ottomans.

When Mahomet II. mounted the throne, the Genoese were expelled
from Pera, {53} and Venice regained the preponderance in eastern

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{52} The depot of India commerce being in the Crimea, which is near
the mouth of the Wolga, is a strong reason for believing the trade was
carried on through the Caspian Sea; but it has been asserted, that the
chief route was directly by land from the Tigris to the Black Sea. This
seems a very good way; but, in that case, why cross the Black Sea to
go to the Crimea? Any one who looks at the map will be able to judge
that as being very unlikely. Doctor Robertson, however, has taken no
notice of this difficulty. Two things are certain: that the depot was in
the Crimea, and that merchants never go out of their road without
having some cause for doing it. The reader must then determine for
himself.

{53} Before the Genoese were expelled, the