Lombardy - Financial Powerhouse

The city of Milan, centre of the Lombardy region, was founded by Celtic tribes who then extended their rule all the way to the Adriatic Sea. From 194 BCE, Roman culture overwhelmed the Celtic civilization, and in the years that followed, Lombardy became one of the richest areas of Italy, with the construction of good roads and the swift development of agriculture and trade. Taking full advantage of the flourishing economy, Lombardy continued to trade and make deals until it became the financial centre of Europe. The word ‘Lombard’ in Renaissance England came to mean any merchant or banker from northern Italy.