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The dominion of Venice -

The Venetian state was once one of the wealthiest and most influential hubs in Europe, for hundreds of years. A big part of national ideology was the importance of Venice commercially.

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La Sereníssima -

Traditionally known as La Sereníssima (Sereníssima República, "The Most Serene Republic"), this maritime republic and sovereign state existed for 1,100 years from 697 CE until 1797 CE.

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The salt trade -

The salt industry in Venice dates back to the 7th century. The Republic of Venice produced and traded high-quality salt, salted products, and other products along trade routes that came from the salt trade. The Venetians established a monopoly in salt supply to Italy.

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Marco Polo (1254-1324) -

One of the city's most famous sons, Marco Polo was born in Venice. He traveled the Silk Road to China, and his 24 years of travels would open up trade between Europe and the East.

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The Fourth Crusade (1202) -

The Venetian navy contributed to the Crusades, most notably to the Fourth Crusade, which it joined to protect and expand its own interests and trading power.

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The Fourth Crusade (1202) -

The Crusades brought an expansion of trade and, with that, Venice profited financially.

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The Ottoman Empire -

While Venice fought numerous battles against the Ottoman Empire and earlier Muslim polities, it also engaged in substantial trade within the Muslim world.

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Principle of trade -

While the principle of trade rests on expansion, the republic of Venice was limited by its own borders. However, it would extend its jurisdiction into Dalmatia and across the Mediterranean and Aegean Islands.

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A powerful state -

At the height of its power, it was the third largest state in Europe. Venice grew its wealth through maritime trade. Its position allowed merchants to capitalize as middlemen between Europe and the Middle East.

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Dominion -

Until the 14th century, Venice ruled only the islands of the lagoon and the dogado—a thin strip of land bordering the lagoon on the mainland—as well as most of the Dalmatian coast, the island of Corfu, various islands in the Aegean, the coasts of the Peloponnese, and Crete.

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Overseas empire -

The overseas territories often served as a series of staging areas for Venetian commerce, as well as being valuable in themselves.

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The Visconti effect -

The rise of the Visconti family in rival city-state Milan, from the 1380s onwards, had given the Sereníssima a push to establish itself more prominently as a territorial power.

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Profitable territory -

Between 1403 and 1405, it took over Verona, Vicenza, and Padua. In 1426, it conquered Brescia and in 1428 Bergamo in Lombardy. These acquisitions proved immensely profitable.

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The Peace of Lodi (1454) -

An alliance with the Sforza of Milan culminated in the Peace of Lodi. With this pact, Milan, Florence, Venice, and (in 1455) King Alfonso of Aragon and Naples and Pope Nicholas V bound themselves together in an "Italian League" against any power, Italian or foreign, that should disturb the existing balance of power.

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The Peace of Lodi (1454) -

At the time, the treaty established special machinery for the peaceful settlement of any disputes and ushered in a more tranquil era.

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The Great Council of Venice -

The Great Council was the main political organization of the Republic of Venice between 1172 and 1797. While originally somewhat open, it gradually became an oligarchic government, ruled by the aristocratic and mercantile class.

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The Great Council of Venice -

The members of the Great Council elected the Senate, the Lesser Council, the Quarantia (judiciary), the Council of Ten, all the committees of government, and the Doge.

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The Doge -

The Doge was the head of state, and head of the oligarchy, for life. The word translates as "duke." It was the highest role of authority in the Republic of Venice.

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The Venetian Senate -

By 1450, the Venetian Senate had grown to 300 members. It was particularly concerned with foreign policy, war, and matters of commerce. Its chosen ambassadors constituted the first diplomatic service in Europe.

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The Venetian Senate -

The Senate auctioned the lease of ships, nominated their master mariners, and laid down regulations for their crewing and equipment. It controlled the markets of grain, salt, wine, and oil; it built the principal merchant galleys and organized the regular convoys (mudae), which sailed to 'Romania' (Constantinople and the Black Sea), 'Flanders' (London and Brugge), and Tunis.

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Social stability -

Between the 13th and 16th centuries, the state enjoyed a level of social stability that others didn't. The superiority of its state structure and careful administration could be responsible for this. Corporations—craft guilds—were formed, which played a crucial social role in instilling consensus among the people about the work of the state.

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The state Arsenal -

The state-owned Arsenal provided shipbuilding yards and dry and wet docks for the maintenance of huge numbers of vessels. Manufacture flourished, especially in silks and cottons, tanning, and glassblowing.

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A merchant commercial revolution -

The Venetian republic’s commercial revolution reached its peak during the 15th century when the spice trade from India was monopolized using exclusive trade agreements that only benefited Venice. This sent the Spanish and Portuguese searching for new trade routes to India.

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The marketplace of the world -

St. Mark’s Square (the "marketplace of the world"), near the Doge’s Palace, is significant in the Venetian history of finance. Venice and other Italian maritime republics played a central role in cultivating capitalism.

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The introduction of credit -

In the Middle Ages, money mainly consisted of gold or silver. Transporting these materials was expensive and dangerous. Credit became the solution to speed up the turnover of goods.

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Earliest banks -

As a result, Venice had some of the earliest banks in the world. The republic was a forerunner when it came to a national debt system.

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Center of publishing -

Venice had an exceptionally well-formed, independent publishing industry that provided a sanctuary from Rome and its Catholic censorship for many centuries.

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Venetian Renaissance -

The Venetian Renaissance had a distinct character, as its isolated location enabled citizens to take art and its various forms more seriously.

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Access to the finest pigments -

The city’s successful oriental trade for spices and luxury goods meant Venice’s artistic community had access to the finest and most costly pigments.

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Venetian music -

Music also became part of the artistic landscape and brilliant Baroque composers such as Vivaldi, Marcello, and Galuppi left their mark on the city.

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A cosmopolitan city -

A commercial powerhouse, Venice held a position as a major crossroads between Europe, Asia, and Africa. During the height of its success, it became a cosmopolitan city that had communities of Greeks, Armenians, Jews, Germans, and Albanians.

Sources: (Britannica) (Newberry Library) (ItalianRenaissance.org) (UNESCO)

See also: Visions of Venice—Discover the magic city

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