Duchy of Amalfi

The Duchy of Amalfi

The Duchy of Amalfi was a small, busy trading place a long time ago, during the 10th and 11th centuries. It was near the beautiful city of Amalfi in Italy.

At first, Amalfi was part of the Duchy of Naples. In the year 958, the people chose a leader called a duke or doge. Soon, Amalfi became very good at trading with other places around the Mediterranean sea.

Even though Amalfi lost its independence in 1073, it still had many important achievements. One of the biggest was making the compass better for sea travel. A clever person named Flavio Gioia helped change the compass, making it easier for ships to find their way.

The city of Amalfi is still famous today for its beautiful views and its history as a strong trading place long ago.