Venice: a brief history lesson
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Venice, with its iconic canals, gondolas, and vibrant masked celebrations, is a city like no other — a remarkable testament to human ingenuity and perseverance. Rising from the Venetian Lagoon, this floating marvel combines stunning architecture with over a thousand years of history, shaped by trade, diplomacy, culture, and conflict.
The Floating City is truly one of a kind, captivating visitors in every season. For me, Venice competes with Rome as my favorite large city in Italy—it never ceases to amaze me.
Are you thinking about exploring Venice yourself? A little insight into its fascinating history will help you appreciate its wonders even more. Let's journey through time and uncover the story of the Floating City. Here we go!
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History of Venice |
Birth of the Floating City
Unlike most of Italy's larger cities, Venice did not take shape during the Roman Empire. Instead, it rose from the chaos that followed Rome's collapse. In the 5th and 6th centuries, waves of invasions swept through northern Italy. The Huns, led by Attila, rampaged across the region, leaving destruction behind. The Gothic Wars between the Ostrogoths and the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) tore apart cities and infrastructure. In 568, the Lombards arrived, adding another to the instability.
Fleeing these upheavals, refugees sought safety in the Venetian Lagoon. The marshy islands offered protection, as the difficult terrain discouraged invaders. The settlers began constructing their homes on wooden piles driven into the muddy seabed and gradually established small communities. Over time, they united these scattered settlements, laying the groundwork for Venice: a unique urban environment that seemed to float on water.
To organize and lead this emerging society, Venetians appointed a Doge, the highest political position. The term "Doge" comes from the Latin dux, meaning leader. This title was used for the governors of provinces in the Byzantine Empire, which included the Venetian Lagoon in the 7th and 8th centuries. Documentation of the first Doges can be found from this period.
Rise of a maritime power
In the 9th century, Venice emerged as a major maritime power, benefiting from trading rights along the Adriatic coast granted by the Byzantine Empire. During this period, the city gained increasing independence, gradually developing into a self-sufficient city-state with a formidable maritime capacity. This strength allowed the city to wield more control over the surrounding waters and to actively participate in trade from the East that flowed into the Adriatic Sea through the Mediterranean.
At the start of the 11th century, Venice launched military campaigns to eliminate pirates operating from strongholds along the Istrian and Dalmatian coasts. These efforts stabilized the region's trade routes and positioned the Republic of Venice as a pivotal force in Mediterranean commerce.
Dominating Mediterranean trade became vital for Venice's wealth and influence. Therefore, the city began constructing the Venetian Arsenal around 1104. This state-owned complex of shipyards and armories became the backbone of the Republic's naval power from the Late Middle Ages to the early modern era.
Venice's fleets laid the foundation for what became the greatest commercial power the European world had yet seen. A key to this success was Venice's innovative mass production of warships. By the early 16th century, the Arsenal employed approximately 16,000 workers, who could produce nearly one ship per day. They fitted, armed, and provisioned galleys using standardized parts on a production line — a method not seen again until the Industrial Revolution.
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Fight for supremacy
Venice's rise to power was not uncontested. It frequently found itself in conflict with the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium), the Lombards, Genoa, and later, the Ottoman Empire. Among the most important battles were:
The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204): Pope Innocent III launched the Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem from its Muslim rulers. However, missteps, financial pressures, and Venetian trading ambitions redirected the campaign toward Constantinople. This city was not only the capital of the Byzantine Empire but also the most important Christian center of its era. In 1204, crusaders sacked Constantinople, looting its riches, relics, and artworks. Venice and its allies divided the Byzantine Empire, with Venice claiming key territories such as Crete and parts of the Aegean. This conquest solidified Venice's dominance in Eastern Mediterranean trade.
The War of Chioggia (1378–1381): Venice and Genoa, long-time rivals for commercial supremacy, clashed in four wars collectively known as the Venetian-Genoese Wars. Their final large-scale conflict, the War of Chioggia, began when Venice purchased the island of Tenedos from Byzantine Emperor John V. Believing this move threatened their access to the Black Sea, the Genoese launched an assault on the Venetians. The fighting soon spread to other Adriatic ports, including Chioggia, where the Genoese seized the harbor. Venice, however, launched a successful counteroffensive, defeating Genoa and forcing their surrender in 1380. The two sides eventually signed a peace treaty in Turin (1381). Both sides suffered heavy losses, but Genoa was hit harder, losing its naval supremacy. Although Venice endured severe losses, it quickly recovered and continued its rise to power.
The Battle of Lepanto (1571): Perhaps the most famous Venetian engagement, this battle was fought between the Holy League, led by the Spanish Empire and the Italian maritime powers, and the Ottoman Empire. Venice played a major role in defeating the Ottoman fleet. But despite this decisive win, the Ottomans quickly rebuilt their navy in less than six months, limiting the battle's long-term military impact. However, Lepanto became a powerful moral victory. For decades, the Ottoman Turks had struck fear into Europe, and the conquests of Suleiman the Magnificent had caused great concern among Christian nations. This battle shattered the myth of Ottoman invincibility and renewed Europe's confidence.
There's at least one more noteworthy battle, one that caused the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797 and ended over a millennium of Venetian independence. I'll cover this battle later on.
Empire of merchants
Venetian merchants controlled some of the most lucrative trade routes in the Mediterranean, importing and exporting a wide range of valuable commodities. Spices from the East, such as pepper, cloves, and cinnamon, were highly sought after and brought immense wealth. Venice also became one of the most important centers of silk production in the Western world. Marco Polo is probably one of Venice's most famous merchants, best known for his travels to Asia, particularly China.
Equally important was Venice's glass industry, which became world-renowned. The Venetian glassmakers of Murano are known for many innovations and refinements to glassmaking. Among them are cristallo, chandeliers, spectacles, and mirrors. They guarded their secret techniques while striving for beauty in every piece. Their perfected techniques continue to make Venetian (Murano) glass some of the most prized and imitated in the world!
In addition to these high-end goods, Venice dominated the salt trade. Salt was both a valuable trade commodity and an essential preservative for fish and meat. By the 7th century, Venice began producing salt in Chioggia but eventually moved on to buying and establishing salt production throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. Venetian merchants acquired salt from regions like Egypt, Algeria, and the Crimean Peninsula. Along with salt, they also traded other valuable goods, such as Indian spices, which they brought back to Venice.
The Venetian government made the salt trade even more profitable by requiring exporters to bring salt into the city. In return they received a subsidy called the 'ordo sales.' The state then resold the salt at a profit, which accounted for nearly 15% of Venice's total income.
Venice's cultural legacy
Despite its military challenges and thanks to the wealth from trade, Venice flourished culturally. Renowned painters like Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese transformed Venice's churches and palaces into vibrant showcases of color and emotion. Titian, one of the greatest Renaissance painters, combined the ideas of the High Renaissance and the Mannerists to create a style well ahead of his time. Tintoretto brought drama to religious scenes with his dynamic compositions, while Veronese, influenced by Titian, became known for his rich colors and intricate, interwoven compositions.
The city's musical heritage features figures like Antonio Vivaldi, one of the most celebrated composers of the Baroque period. Vivaldi's iconic 'The Four Seasons' remains one of the most famous works in classical music.
Venice was also home to Giacomo Casanova, a man of countless professions — writer, adventurer, spy, and many others — but he is perhaps best known for his infamous reputation as the world's greatest lover. His autobiography, which possibly exaggerates some of his escapades, provides a fascinating glimpse into 18th-century European society, capturing the intrigue and elegance of the time.
Challenges and decline
For centuries, Venice thrived as a maritime and trading hub. The Republic dominated Mediterranean commerce and exerted influence across Europe and the Near East. But fortunes began to fade after the Middle Ages.
The discovery of America in 1492 caused commerce to shift focus to the New World, and new great maritime powers were born: Spain and Britain. Venice tried to compensate for the loss of maritime supremacy and expanded its domain over Northern Italy in the 15th century. But when they occupied the Romagna region, Pope Julius II called a Holy Alliance against Venice and defeated the Venetians in 1510.
Meanwhile, the Venetian Republic faced mounting pressure from the Ottoman Empire. Despite some temporary victories like the earlier mentioned Battle of Lepanto (1571), the Turks became the new sea power.
By the 18th century, Venice had declined into a shadow of its former glory. The Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars delivered the final blow. Napoleon Bonaparte led French forces into northern Italy, defeating Austrian armies. Though neutral, Venice, weakened and vulnerable, found itself caught in the conflict between France and Austria.
In May 1797, French troops entered the city. The Venetian government, unable to mount a military defense, chose to surrender. On May 12, the last Doge of Venice, Ludovico Manin, relinquished power, ending over 1,100 years of Venetian sovereignty.
The Treaty of Campo Formio, signed on October 17, 1797, sealed Venice's fate. Napoleon handed Venice and its territories to Austria in exchange for Austria's holdings in the Netherlands.
In 1866, after the Third Italian War of Independence, Venice and the rest of the Veneto region became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.
Modern Venice
Despite losing its status as a maritime and political power, Venice has preserved its status as a cultural treasure. Its winding canals, gorgeous architecture, and rich history continue to draw visitors from across the globe. Events like the Biennale, which highlights modern art and architecture, and the Carnival, with its colorful masks and extravagant costumes, celebrate the city's unique traditions while embracing modern creativity.
New challenges, however, threaten Venice's future. Rising sea levels frequently flood the streets and damage the city's ancient structures. To address the problem, Venice is implementing solutions like the MOSE flood barriers.
Besides the water, overtourism has also become a challenge, putting pressure on Venice's infrastructure and ecosystem. The overwhelming number of visitors, particularly those arriving by large cruise ships, has led to overcrowding, environmental degradation, and damage to historical sites. To address these issues, Venice (finally) took steps, including banning large cruise ships from entering its canals.
In 2024, Venice introduced a new 'City Entrance Tax' for tourists who visit without staying overnight. The tax applies only to the historic center and must be paid on certain days — 54 days in 2025, mainly during the high season. Tourists over 14 years old must pay 5 euros if they do so before the fourth day of their visit. After that, the fee rises to 10 euros. The main goal of the tax is to manage the flow of tourists, helping preserve the city and ensure a better experience for visitors. It also aims to ease the financial burden on Venetians, who currently bear the costs of maintaining the city and its services.
We can only hope these efforts will help protect Venice's unique charm, allowing future generations to experience this magical city!
