As the Holy Roman Empire lost influence over its kingdoms, duchies and city-state constituents, the German merchants, hitherto the masters of European trade, were forced to seek new markets in the East.
O Sacro Imperio Romano-Xermánico perde influencia sobre os seus reinos, ducados e cidades-estado constituíntes, e os mercadores alemáns, ata aí señores do comercio europeo, vense forzados a procurar novos mercados a Oriente.