How did trade advance science?

Answer 1

There are several things that have to be measured accurately in order for one business man to "trust" another. First things first: they have to have an accurate and precise system of weights and measures. They must agree on how much of product is being sold and since money began as exchanges of gold or salt or some other commodity, they need to agree on how much "money" is changing hands. This spurred the whole science of weight and measurements.

Sometimes merchants have to agree on how long a process takes or how far a distance is or what direction a port, country or landmark is. There was a great push by merchants to have accurate measures of longitude and latitude and accurate clocks. All of this pushed the scientists to serve the needs of businessmen.