Answer:
Italian city-states
Step-by-step explanation:
During the late Middle Ages, trade in the Mediterranean was controlled by the Italian city-states. The city-states were a series of independent states that originated in central and northern Italy between the 9th and 15th centuries. They were able to remain relevant and stable at the beginning of the Middle Ages due to the fact that they inherited many institutions from Ancient Rome. Among these cities, we find Venice, Milan, Florence, Genoa, Pisa, Lucca, Cremona, Siena, Città di Castello and Perugia.