It remained such for centuries, and its power began to wane only during the 16th century, when the main trading axis shifted toward the Atlantic and the New World.
सुसंस्कृत जगातील सर्वात समृद्ध व्यापारी केंद्र ” ही सगळी वर्णने त्यावेळी या शहराकरता अगदी योग्य होती.