Venice: Rise and Fall of a Great City-State

1. CHAPTER 6 Venice: Rise and Fall of a Great City-State • In this chapter you will learn about • Venice: An Introduction to the City-State • The reasons for Venice’s rise to greatness • The reasons for Venice’s eventual fall • Lessons that Singapore can learn from the history of Venice

4. Venice: An Introduction • BACKGROUND – EUROPE and VENICE: • - Before 5th century AD: Political Instability in Europe • - 5th to 9th centuries AD: Establishment of Venice as a city state • - 9th and 15th centuries – Rise of Venice • - 15th and 18th centuries - Fall of Venice

5. Venice: An Introduction • Political Setting in Europe [Before 5th Century AD] : Decline of the Roman Empire and Emergence of Venice • 1st Century AD, Roman Empire, the only major empire in Europe declined due to: • external threats, internal threats and poor economic growth. • Roman Empire divided into Western and Eastern Roman Empires to manage the problems. • Western Roman Empire: • Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD due to: • constant conflicts with Germanic tribes from Central and Eastern Europe • Spilt into many kingdoms that frequently fought with one another • Eastern Roman Empire [Byzantine Empire] • Survived due to good geographical position – could control trade in the Adriatic Sea and the Middle East • Faced constant attacks from Germanic tribes from its west and from the Muslim kingdoms in the east

6. Venice’s Beginning • Refugees from the Roman Empires fled and settled in marshy swamps located in Northern Italy at the tip of the Adriatic Sea • Geography of Venice: • Located in Northern Italy. Consisted of clusters of small islands [about 120] about 3 km from the mainland. • These islands are in a lagoon and protected from the strong currents of the Adriatic Sea by larger islands in the south • Many salt marshes in the lagoon – salt became a profitable resource for Venice • Strategically located at the tip of the Adriatic Sea and therefore able to control trade in the Adriatic and Black Seas and the Middle East • Protection from strong currents and availability of salt led to the early rise of Venice

7. Venice’s Beginning • Life of Early Settlers: • Became seafarers because of the make up of Venice – made up of small islets with little land for agriculture. • Established fishing villages and main occupation were fishing, salt production and making crafts especially shipbuilding. • Dependent on the mainland for food and raw materials • Economic Activities: • Monopolised the salt trade in the region because of their knowledge of salt production • Exchanged salt and fish for food with people in the mainland especially those living by the Po River • Established trade agreements with these communities and dominated region around the river mouth and its surrounding mainland • These agreements allowed Venetians access to the forested areas in the mainland where they got wood for trading and shipbuilding • Being skilled shipbuilders helped Venice expand its trade to the Middle East to obtain valuable goods like spices, gold and incense in exchange for wood. • Venice became a strong trade power by the 7th century in the Adriatic Sea region and offered protection to Byzantine Empire’s territories along the Italian shores.

8. Venice’s Beginning • Venetian Society: • Over time, a few families became very wealthy and politically influential due to trade. • The rest of the population consisted of merchants, fishermen, craftsmen, salt harvesters and artisans (a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools) • But there was social stability because: • i] efforts were made to ensure that the rich do not show off their wealth – they could only decorate the interior of their houses not the exterior • ii] each islet had its own town centre where the market and church were located. This was the place both the rich and poor gathered for celebrations and provided opportunities for them to interact and build neighbourliness [Common Space?] • iii] the Venetians had a strong sense of belonging due to their history.

9. Venice’s Beginning • Venetian System of Government: • Vassal state of the Byzantine Empire but had freedom to choose their own leaders • It was an Aristocratic Republic – Rich members of society were elected its rulers • Early Venetian government was a three-tiered structure from 8th – 10th century – Will change after this to meet the needs of a growing city-state

10. Leader Doge Ducal Council Assists Doge and selects suitable men to be Doge General Assembly Elected the Doge and passed laws Venice System of Government: Three - Tiered Government Struture • Doge – Leader appointed for life • Ducal Council – Two advisors who assisted the Doge. Selected men suitable to be the Doge • General Assembly – elected the Doge and passed laws on issues like trade and housing

11. Challenges Faced by Early Venetians: 1] Piracy • Increased piracy in the Adriatic Sea when the Byzantine Empire declined in the 10th century and could not offer protection to Venice. • Piracy threatened Venice’s trade • Venice did not have a strong navy then – paid yearly tributes to pirates not to attack Venetian ships along the Adriatic Sea and also arranged for Venetian ships to travel in convoys for safety. 2] Maintaining Good Diplomatic Relations with countries in rivalry - It was a vassal state of the Byzantine Empire but established good relations with their rivals, the Germanic tribes in order to continue in its role as middleman in the trade between the East and the West - Kept friendly relations with rival mainland states to get favourable trade conditions and to expand its trade.

13. Significance of Winged Lion Why a lion when Venice is a maritime city? The winged lion was at first St. Mark’s symbol but was later used as a way of showing the power of Venice. Legend mentions that in the Ninth Century some Venetian thieves stole the remains of St. Mark the Apostle from Egypt. They smuggled the body onto the ship by stuffing flowers and meat around the body to keep onlookers away. A storm struck at sea. It was then that St. Mark “appeared” to the captain and warned him to strike the sails lest the ship crash on the rocks. They survived the storm and reached their destination. Local Venice religious authorities elected St. Mark as the patron saint of Venice and the winged lion (St. Mark’s traditional symbol) as the logo of the Venetian Republic. The winged lion is a symbol of peace, power and prestige

14. View Of Venice

15. Aerial View of Venice Today with a bridge linking it to the mainland Bridge

16. Reasons for Rise of Venice Political Economic

17. 2a] To meet the needs of a growing city state 2] Reforms in the Government 2b] To ensure effective checks on Power Political Reasons For Rise of Venice 1] Leadership: Enterprising, forward – looking, practical and diplomatic Leadership

18. LEADERSHIP 1] diplomatic and practical Eg. Doge Pietro II Orseolo - maintained friendships with leaders in Europe like the Byzantine and Germanic rulers as well as the Muslim states in North Africa although there was enmity between the Christians and Muslims. - Put down the pirates in Dalmatia by cutting off salt supplies to cities controlled by the pirates. • Impact: • As a result of the practical diplomatic relations, helped Venice remain peaceful • and stable in its early years of development. • protected Venice independence and trade interests and helped Venice gain • favourable trade deals which boosted Venice’s wealth making Venice powerful • - Getting rid of piracy ensured safe trade passage for Venetian • traders and increased its wealth. • - Venice established its controlover the important • routesin the Adriatic Sea

19. LEADERSHIP 2] forward-looking – anticipated changes in power developments in Europe and seized the opportunities to build up the Venetian Empire Eg. Doge Enrico Dandolo decided to capture Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire when it was weakening in the 12th century although at one point of time they had friendly relations • Impact: • With this conquest and capture, Venice controlled some of the • important territories controlled by the Byzantine Empire which • were important for trade enabling Venice to rise. • Venice gained recognition from other states for its conquest of the once powerful Byzantine Empire. This helped Venice obtain • favourable trading terms • - Venice became the most powerful country in the region

20. LEADERSHIP 3] very enterprising – took steps to expand Veniceas a major maritime empire through conquests and control of important routes in the Mediterranean Sea Eg. Doge Pietro Ziani led many missions to conquer and control important territories along the Mediterranean Sea to strengthen Venice’s maritime trade in the face of increasing trade competition • Impact: • As a result, this helped strengthen Venice’s maritime trade in the face of increasing trade competition • Venice trade expanded and it obtained more wealth that contributed to its rise as a maritime empire.

22. Doge’s Palace

23. Reforms in the Government • - Reforms were introduced to the structure of the government • from the 12th century to: • A] Meet the needs of a growing city-state. • Eg. In addition to the Doge, Ducal Council and General Assembly, • the i] Great Council was created to: • - Elect capable members to all councils in the government • Pass laws and settle disputes between different councils • provide more opportunities for members from influential • families to participate in deciding Venice’s future so as to reduce • rivalry among the nobles that would destabilize the government • ii] The Council of Forty was created in the 13th Century to handle • law and finances as Venice grew • iii] 60 member Senate was added to handle foreign affairs and • trade matters because of expansion of trade and increased • diplomatic ties

24. Reforms were also made in the government to: • B] Ensure effective checks on power and to prevent concentration of power • Eg I] Council of Ten was formed in the 14th Century to: • a] prevent corruption and abuse of power - any official, including the Doge, found guilty would be arrested and plots to threaten the government would be crushed. • II] The Nominating Committee was added to the election process to: • identify suitable male candidates for elected posts through balloting not favouritism to ensure fairness and to prevent any one individual or family from gaining too much influence in the government. • ensure no nominee could campaign for support to prevent rivalry among the candidates and to ensure that the candidates were elected based on their ability and not personal favour. • ensure that elected candidates did not reject their appointments so that all positions of responsibility in the government were filled up by the best candidates.

25. Impact: • - Fairness in selection and greater opportunities to participate in governing Venice, prevented rivalry among the nobles to serve in the government which could • destabilize the government • checks on power avoided dominance by anyone person • corrupt practices were checked and uprisings crushed leading to greater confidence in the government and support from locals and foreigners leading to peace and stability • Venice is stable and organised and this would lead to increase in trade and wealth

26. Industrial Development Trade Developments and Expansion 1] Shipbuilding Industry 2] Manufacturing industries 1] Venetians’ attitude towards Trade 2] Innovations in Maritime Technology 3] Efficiency in managing trade voyages 4] Overcoming trade competition 5] Trade Monopoly Economic Reasons for Rise of Venice Innovative and Enterprising Trade Practices 1] Giro Banking 2] Double-Entry Bookkeeping

27. a] Venetians were skilled diplomats and enterprising • They were motivated by profits and they used their diplomatic skills to obtain many favourable trading terms from the countries they traded with like lower tax rates • They were also enterprising and brought new products from the East eg. spices from that were in demand in Europe Impact: - Able to maintain a competitive edge over their trade competitors like Genoa and bring wealth to Venice Trade Developments and Expansion 1] Attitude towards trade ?

28. 1] Attitude towards trade • b] The Venetians were adventurous and courageous: • ventured to distant lands to seek new markets • and supplies • eg. Marco Polo and family • traveled north to Greenland, east to Indian Ocean and south to Africa • - also went to Arab states and Far East to trade • Impact: • able to find new opportunities and obtain profitable and exotic trade items • stayed ahead in the trade competition and Venice became one of the greatest cities in Europe • its connections brought traders from various countries to Venice to trade boosting Venice’s wealth.

29. Travels of Marco Polo

31. Trade Developments and Expansion 2] Innovations in Maritime Technology • a] Venetians were adaptable • Made use of advances in maritime technology to improve navigation and defence in the seas • eg. made use of inventions of the compass and nautical charts to conduct voyages in winter. • Impact: • Able to dominate trade in the Mediterranean Sea throughout • the year giving it an advantage over its competitors • Increased frequency of trade meant it could earn more • profits and become wealthy and thus powerful.

32. Innovations in Maritime Technology • b] They were creative • Designed and built the kind of ships they needed to conduct voyages over long distances in harsh weather conditions. • Eg. they built ships that used both oarsmen and sails. Ships were thus not dependent on wind alone to sail • Built galleys in the 13th century which were both merchant and war ships. The galleys were used for defence purposes when needed and could be used to transport more goods for trade. • Impact: • Merchant and battle fleets were able to travel further as the ships were not dependent on wind to sail. • - Venetians were able to expand their trade and territorial control. • Galleys in the ships discouraged pirates from launching attacks on Venetian trading ships making the passage of Venetian traders safer

33. Trade Developments and Expansion 3] Efficiency in managing voyages • a] Venetians were efficient. • The Senate set up an effective management system • Monitored and organised the schedule of trade voyages • Grouped and ordered traders to travel in convoys to trade in • larger quantities for greater profits. • Impact: • The efficiency of the system meant that Venice was able to • expand its trade into many regions and increase its profits

34. Trade Developments and Expansion 4] Overcoming Trade Competition • a] Venetians were tenacious [Steadfast] • - Willing to fight many wars with their main trade rival Genoa to defend its trade. • - Venice and Genoa often fought in the open seas and rivalry between them led to many wars. • Venice managed to defeat Genoa in the late 14th century • Impact: • With Genoa’s defeat, Venice got rid of its main trade rival. • This allowed it to have complete control of trade in • the Mediterranean Sea bringing them more international trade. • - With more wealth, Venice power grew.

35. Trade Developments and Expansion 5] Trade Monopoly - Venice was well located at the northern tip of the Adriatic Sea • Central and Southern Europe depended on it for goods from the East like spices, sugar and diamonds • Venetian traders went to Arabian ports like Alexandria and Hormuz using overland and sea routes to sell these goods to other European states at a high price. • The other European states had no choice but to buy from Venice because its navy dominated the region Impact: - Trade monopoly helped Venetian traders earn huge profits and allowed Venice to dominate trade in the area over its rivals

36. Central and Southern Europe

38. Innovative and Enterprising Trade Practices - The Venetians had innovative trade practices that were responsive to the needs of traders. - There were large numbers of foreign traders – Venice focused on trade services e.g. banking, insurance, money-exchange, credit banking with giro-banking, state bank to avoid banking from collapsing • Impact: • efficient and convenient financial and insurance services as well as government’s involvement attracted more traders to Venice increasing Venice’s trade and wealth. • Venice was able to keep up with the times due to willingness to adapt to changes allowing it to remain wealthy and powerful. ?

40. Industrial Development a] Manufacturing Industries - Venetians were enterprising • Diversified into manufacturing industries such as glassmaking, candles and scented soap to meet the demand for consumer goods as Venice prospered. • Venice also diversified into the printing industry to serve the large reading public • Impact: • More jobs were created for the people and Venice continued to prosper. • Skilled craftsmen from other parts of Europe came and settled in Venice resulting in the growth of a variety of high quality manufactured goods that Venice could sell. • Venice continued to become powerful as its wealth increased through diversification into manufacturing.

41. Venetian Glassware and Printing Industry

42. Industrial Development b] Shipbuilding Industry - Venetians were adaptable and responsive to circumstances of the times Eg. Built the Arsenal so that shipbuilding industries like ship design, outfitting, maintenance and production of galleys could be centralised at one location. • Impact: • The Arsenal became the backbone • of Venetian maritime empire • and power as it supported Venetian • voyages A view of an entrance of the Arsenal

44. Venice At the Height Of Its Power [15th century] – A Maritime Empire with: • 1] Territorial Possessions • Had many territories along the trade routes • Territories were obtained from its defeat of the Byzantine Empire and its defeat of pirates in the region • Impact: • Territorial possessions allowed Venetian ships to stop over to replenish supplies and acted as rest stations for crew • Territories obtained from the Byzantine Empire helped Venice strengthen its maritime authority in the Mediterranean Sea • Defeat of the pirates gave Venice full control of the Adriatic Sea • Venice therefore established its dominant commercial power and earned the title, “Queen of the Adriatic Sea.”

45. Venice At the Height Of Its Power [15th century] – A Maritime Empire with: • 2] Social Transformation • Wealthiest state in Europe • Venetian society became more diverse and cosmopolitan as a result of the mass arrival of foreigners. • Foreign traders and merchants were attracted to come and stay in Venice as a result of the efficiency of trade • Venice also provided incentives like housing and citizenship to attract foreign talent to work and live in the country to sustain its commercial activities in the face of labour shortage. • Impact: • - Venice became cosmopolitan and were able to attract highly skilled craftsmen to sustain its development.

46. Venice At the Height Of Its Power [15th century] – A Maritime Empire with: • 3] Artistic Achievements • - The skilled craftsmen and artists that came to work and live in Venice helped transform it into a centre of the arts in Europe. • Venice became famous for its mosaic art • Impact: • Attracted rich nobles from other European countries to Venice to admire the great works of art in the country • This increased its reputation and wealth making it powerful.

47. Venice At the Height Of Its Power [15th century] – A Maritime Empire with: • 4] Scientific and Literary Developments: • Trade exposed Venetians to knowledge in other parts of the world and increased interest in the sciences • - Nobles from other parts of Europe attended universities in Venice to learn more about the sciences • From the 14th century, the government provided funds to attract distinguished professors. • Academics from Venice were also sent to other countries to gain knowledge and then share their knowledge • Impact: • Venice developed into a centre of learning in Europe • Attracted academic talent to Venice and increased Venice reputation as a centre of learning.

48. Venice At the Height Of Its Power [15th century] – A Maritime Empire with: • 5] Economic Prosperity: • Skilled craftsmen were well paid in Venice. • Guilds were created to ensure job security and high standards and quality of the goods produced. • Impact: • Venetian goods were of high quality and were in great demand • The high demand led to increased trade and the Venetians getting higher incomes and better standards of living.

49. Venice At the Height Of Its Power – Artistic Achievements

50. Venetian Ceiling Details