Who As feudalism ended in Western Europe which two groups became the backbone of the middle class?

As feudalism ended in Western Europe, the two groups that became the backbone of the middle class were the urban merchants and the skilled artisans. Merchants thrived on trade and commerce, benefiting from the growing market economy, while artisans contributed through their specialized crafts and services. Together, they played a crucial role in the economic transformation that characterized the rise of the middle class during the late medieval period and the Renaissance.