What will we learn
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Historical background of Venice
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Challenges faced by Venice
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Factors to the rise of Venice
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Venice’s Golden Age
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Factors leading to the fall of Venice
Venice: 5th to 9th Century
• Geography
• Early Settlers
• Challenges faced by early Venetians
Venice was made up of may small islands with numerous canals in between.
Venice: 5th to 9th Century
EARLY SETTLERS
• Life of early venetians
• Expert sailors and shipbuilders
• knowledge of crafts, fishing & salt production
• Not agriculturely inclined
• Depended on mainland states for food & raw
materials
• Rainwater collected for constant water supply
Venice: 5th to 9th Century
• Venetian society
• System of administration created Neighbourliness
& Sense of belonging for social stability
• Venice had 5 districts, smaller administrative &
social units
• Close interaction between the rich and poor,
houses were built close to one another
• Celebrations at central square
Venice: 5th to 9th Century
• Economic activities
• Knowledge of salt production – monopoly
• Trade agreements with difft communities around
the Po River – gained dominance
• access mainload & forested areas for wood –
shipbuilding
• Exchanged wood for gold, spices and incense with
Egypt
• Rising trade power
Venice: 5th to 9th Century
• System of government
• Elected leader – Doge a life appointment
• 3 tiered structure:
• Doge
• Ducal Council – nominate dogeship
• General Assembly – passed laws on essential
issues (trade and housing)
Challenges
• Piracy in the Adriatic Sea.
• Maintaining diplomatic relations
• 10th century Europe
Challenges
• Piracy in the Adriatic Sea.
• Byzantine Empire’s control over its territories
weakened
• Venice had no strong navy, experienced failures
against the pirates
• Pay annual gifts to ensure safe passage along
the Adriatic Sea.
• Travelled in convoy for safety
Challenges
• Maintaining diplomatic relations between rivals in the
West and East
• 5th century Venice
• Maintained friendship between the Byzantine
emperor and Germanic kings(both are rivals)
• Balancing act allowed Venice to act as middlemen
for Eastern products which are sold in Europe
• Establishing friendly relations with mainland states
for favourable trading and trade expansion
Challenges
• 10th century Europe
• Germanic tribes invaded Europe and established
kingdoms and cities.
• Farming and food production increased with
peaceful conditions
• Trade grew as surplus food was being exchanged
for other goods
• Prosperous cities became centres for trade
• Posed a direct challenge to Venice
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Leadership
Reforms in the government
Trade developments and expansion
Industrial development
Innovative practices
Dogeº
Pietro II
Orseolo
subude the
pirates in
Dalmatia.
Doge and Ducal Councillors with Council of 40
Innovative Practices
• journal for double-entry bookkeeping
• Giro-banking
• Territorial possessions
• Social transformation
• Economic prosperity
Challenges between the 15th & 18th
Centuries
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Foreign talents
Maritime competition
Political challenges
Social challenges
Fall of Venice
Challenges between the 15th & 18th
Centuries
• Foreign threats
– Involvement in the mainland
– Ottoman Empire
– League of Cambrai
Challenges between the 15th & 18th
Centuries
• Maritime competition
– Discovery of new sea routes
– New trade rivals
Smaller States
- under control of large state
- under influence of large state
- independent
Challenges between the 15th & 18th
Centuries
• Political challenges
– Incapable leadership
– Corruption in the government
– Over-dependence on mercenaries
Challenges between the 15th & 18th
Centuries
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Social challenges
More concerned about wealth
Distanced from commoners
Gap between the rich and poor widened
Lavish parties & celebrations
Gambling addiction
Sustaining progress in an everchanging world
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Nation building
Governance
Relations with other states
Sustaining economic development