While Northern Italy was not richer in resources than many other parts of Europe, the level of development, stimulated by trade, allowed it to prosper. In particular, Florence became one of the wealthiest cities in Northern Italy.Florence became the center of this financial industry, and the gold florin became the main currency of international trade.Luxury Goods bought in the Levant, such as spices, dyes, and silks, were imported to Italy and then resold throughoutEurope.The Italian trade routes that covered the Mediterranean and beyond were also major conduits of culture and knowledgeDuring the late Middle Ages, Northern and Central Italy became far more prosperous than the south of Italy, with the city-states, such as Venice