Migration
The first Venetians were fisherman, hunters, and boatmen. After the arrival of the Lombard barbarian horde from northwestern Germany due to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the coastal inhabitants fled to the islands of Venice. There, they lived peacefully for over 1,100 years.
Venice became part of the Byzantine Empire, formerly known as the Eastern Roman Empire, but the Byzantines lost control of Venice in 697 A.D., and the Venetians elected their own doge, a political leader much like a duke, who was deposed in 1797.
Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant, and his father Nicoló took a voyage to the East using the “silk route.” They befriended Kublai Khan, leader of the Mongols. This was one of the first times on record that the West made contact with the East.
During the fifteenth century, the Venetian Republic won more territory on the main-lands and was considered an established power on land and sea. Venice controlled the sea and therefore water trade-routes to the East. Venice became one of the richest and most powerful states of Europe during the 1400’s and this was the prime of Venice, a time when it flourished and prospered.
The heart of Venice is split in half by the Grand Canal, a 1.8 mile long waterway going through the city. Since Venice is situated on islands, water is the most convenient and easily accessible route for Venetians and tourists to travel along. The main form of transportation in Venice is in the waterways, specifically the Grand Canal, in special flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boats called “gondolas.” Gondolas have been the most common watercraft for centuries, and is still a major part of getting around in Venice.
Venice became part of the Byzantine Empire, formerly known as the Eastern Roman Empire, but the Byzantines lost control of Venice in 697 A.D., and the Venetians elected their own doge, a political leader much like a duke, who was deposed in 1797.
Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant, and his father Nicoló took a voyage to the East using the “silk route.” They befriended Kublai Khan, leader of the Mongols. This was one of the first times on record that the West made contact with the East.
During the fifteenth century, the Venetian Republic won more territory on the main-lands and was considered an established power on land and sea. Venice controlled the sea and therefore water trade-routes to the East. Venice became one of the richest and most powerful states of Europe during the 1400’s and this was the prime of Venice, a time when it flourished and prospered.
The heart of Venice is split in half by the Grand Canal, a 1.8 mile long waterway going through the city. Since Venice is situated on islands, water is the most convenient and easily accessible route for Venetians and tourists to travel along. The main form of transportation in Venice is in the waterways, specifically the Grand Canal, in special flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boats called “gondolas.” Gondolas have been the most common watercraft for centuries, and is still a major part of getting around in Venice.