State of Commerce after the Fall of the Roman Empire; its Revival under
the Frankish Kings; its Prosperity under Charlemagne; its Decline down
to the Time of the Crusaders.--The Levant Trade of the
East.--Flourishing State of the Towns of Provence and
Languedoc.--Establishment of Fairs.--Fairs of Landit, Champagne,
Beaucaire, and Lyons.--Weights and Measures.--Commercial Flanders.--Laws
of Maritime Commerce.--Consular Laws.--Banks and Bills of
Exchange.--French Settlements on the Coast of Africa.--Consequences of
the Discovery of America.