Not up to your scholarly level, I don't think. I'm largely going on the reading/research I did using De Roover and others to write http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medici_Bank , where I was struck by the wretched subterfuges that merchants had to resort to and the general lack of sophistication, which struck me as quite different from Chinese systems with genuine fiat currency, undisguised interest, and general sophistication (there may've been Chinese insurance in there too, but I've forgotten any details of that).