Movement
Migration
“View Of A Canal In Venice.” Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 1 May 2013.
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.
Trade
“Venetian Vase, 16th Century.” Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 1 May 2013.
The Venetians are known for being profitable traders and merchants, and were one of the first European cities to establish contact and a flourishing trade with the East. Their rival city was Genoa, another city in Italy and Christopher Columbus’s home town. Genoa and Venice would compete to trade with the East.
One of the goods that Venice is able to produce easily is salt. Since Venice is surrounded by ocean, it has been producing sea salt since the first inhabitants. Venice has no agricultural land to farm and the fortunes of Venice have always been linked to the sea. Sea salt became a valuable commodity for the Venetians in the beginnings of Venice’s rise to influential power in the Middle Ages. The Venetians traded their sea salt with the mainland states of Italy for goods such as grain and wine.
Timber is extremely important to Venice because it is what supports the foundation of Venice; the buildings of Venice are supported by millions of larch poles driven into the muddy islets. Wood is also important because it is what provided the main source for shipbuilding. Shipbuilding was a essential industry for a flourishing trade with Asia, and is what caused Venice to become a major trading city.
One of Venice’s oldest specialties is glassware. Today, this industry has declined considerably, partly due to the fact that the fumes produced by this ancient art contribute to the corrosion of Venice’s foundation.
One of the goods that Venice is able to produce easily is salt. Since Venice is surrounded by ocean, it has been producing sea salt since the first inhabitants. Venice has no agricultural land to farm and the fortunes of Venice have always been linked to the sea. Sea salt became a valuable commodity for the Venetians in the beginnings of Venice’s rise to influential power in the Middle Ages. The Venetians traded their sea salt with the mainland states of Italy for goods such as grain and wine.
Timber is extremely important to Venice because it is what supports the foundation of Venice; the buildings of Venice are supported by millions of larch poles driven into the muddy islets. Wood is also important because it is what provided the main source for shipbuilding. Shipbuilding was a essential industry for a flourishing trade with Asia, and is what caused Venice to become a major trading city.
One of Venice’s oldest specialties is glassware. Today, this industry has declined considerably, partly due to the fact that the fumes produced by this ancient art contribute to the corrosion of Venice’s foundation.
Ideas
“Venice: Semi Natural Islands.” Photograph. Italian Wallpapers. Web. 2 May 2013.
Quote from the Avventure Bellissime website: “While the Florentines [from Florence, Italy] were regarded as great thinkers, the Venetians should be regarded as great doer’s. For they alone conquered the malaria-ridden swamps to build a beautiful, prosperous city from nothing.” To be a doer, one must be a thinker. The early inhabitants of Venice came up with the ideas to incorporate into the newly founded city, and these ideas serve as the foundation of Venice.
Necessity is the mother of invention.” – Plato. This proverb, meaning that difficult situations inspire ingenious solutions, is the main reason why Venice is special and has different ways than most other European cities. An idea that occurred in Venice was the idea of utilizing the island feature and the sea around it, creating waterways, and making them the main route of transportation. This idea was induced by necessity; it was hard to build roads over muddy, marshy land and the early Venetians needed a different solution.
Another problem inducing more ideas because of necessity was malaria. Since the surrounding water and the waterways going through the city was ocean water and stagnant water, there was an infestation of bugs, especially mosquitos, which brought the epidemic of malaria upon Venice. This spawned new ideas to try to get rid of the quickly-spreading disease.
Necessity is the mother of invention.” – Plato. This proverb, meaning that difficult situations inspire ingenious solutions, is the main reason why Venice is special and has different ways than most other European cities. An idea that occurred in Venice was the idea of utilizing the island feature and the sea around it, creating waterways, and making them the main route of transportation. This idea was induced by necessity; it was hard to build roads over muddy, marshy land and the early Venetians needed a different solution.
Another problem inducing more ideas because of necessity was malaria. Since the surrounding water and the waterways going through the city was ocean water and stagnant water, there was an infestation of bugs, especially mosquitos, which brought the epidemic of malaria upon Venice. This spawned new ideas to try to get rid of the quickly-spreading disease.