Map of Venice today Map of Italy today

Map of Venice today

Map of Italy today

Map of Venice today

Venice: 7 th to 9 th Century • Venetians made their living from the sea that surrounded them • Expert sailors and shipbuilders • Monopoly of salt trade – Value of salt increased as a means to preserve food – Capture of areas producing sea salt along the Adriatic Sea – By 9 th Century, production and sale of salt controlled by Venice – Venice, being the sole supplier of salt in the Adriatic Sea, dictated their own price for salt (take it or leave it!)

Venice: 9 th to 15 th Century • Venice rose to be become one of the most powerful states in Europe • Several factors accounted for this meteoric rise

• Exemplary Political System • Aristocratic Republic – Leaders elected from & by nobles – These nobles, or aristocrats, made up about 5% of the population – Wealthiest and most highly educated in the state – Unlike other republican systems in Europe at that time, Venice ensured no domination by any particular family – This was done through its structure of government

Venice: Aristocratic Republic? Source : SS Teachers’ Resource CD (Upper Sec)/Practice of Good Governance CDR 2/SSS 4 RCD_B/06/Venice_Aristocratic Republic /2: 20

Venice: City Republic? Source : SS Teachers’ Resource CD (Upper Sec)/Practice of Good Governance CDR 2/SSS 4 RCD_B/06/Venice_City Republic /2: 15

• Fair Electoral System – Before an election for important govt posts, the Great Council (GC) would form a Nominating Committee (NC) by balloting • Purpose : to prevent any individual or family from dominating the govt • No election campaigns – so no rivalries • NC nominated a pool of candidates from among themselves • The GC then voted for the most suitable person • Voting by GC is to prevent incompetent officers from holding office

• Fair Electoral System – Term of office for important govt posts was quite short – from 6 months to 2 years • Prevent individual from acquiring too much power – No more than one member from each noble family in Ducal Council or NC • Prevent domination by a particular family • Prevent nepotism Nepotism : Favouritism shown to relatives esp in appts to desirable positions

• Capable & Committed Leadership – Leaders were forward-looking & capable leaders – Punishment for talented people who refused to serve in the government • Fine • Not considered for future office – Sebastiano Ziani • • Doge (1172 to 1178) A great planner in Venice Divided the city-state into many districts Relocation of shipyard to reduce noise at government headquarters

• Effective System of Checks on Power – Other than the Central Govt, there was the Signoria • Doge, 6 Ducal Councillors & 3 Heads of Council of Forty • Met in times of crisis; made crucial decisions • Kept close check on election process & officers’ performance – Council of Ten (formed in 1310) • • Close checks on attempts at monopoly of power Membership to Council limited to 1 year No two members could come from same family This was to prevent the council from becoming too powerful – Doge had to act in the interest of the city, not personal interest • Caser study of Marin Falier (1354 -1355) • See page 154

• Effective System of Checks on Power – Such checks help secure loyalty of the people – Safeguards assured the citizens that leaders would not and could not abuse their powers – Citizens were convinced that policies made were for the good of the whole state

• Practical Policies – Response to demands of changing circumstances • Payment to pirates when Venetian navy was weak (9 th C) – Destruction of pirates once the navy was strengthened • Trade with Muslims – Trading links with Muslims were maintained even during wars between Christian Europe and Islamic Middle East • Accommodation to stronger powers – As a form of preservation of its existence – Also to obtain trading privileges from these powers • Assertion of power against weaker states – Capture of important trading ports in Adriatic Sea & Ionian Sea (Cyprus, Crete)

• Strong Navy – Allowed Venice to capture & retain important trading ports – Enforce maritime laws favourable to Venetian traders • Protect Venetian ships from pirates and rivals • Attacked non-Venetian ships • Destruction of trade rivals – Allowed Venetian traders to be middlemen between buyers & sellers from the East & West – Venetian advanced shipbuilding technology • Well-guarded by Venetian government

• Citizens’ Involvement in Ensuring Public Peace – Venice divided into 60 to 70 districts – District Head for each District • Maintained public peace • Collection of taxes • Registered males for mandatory service in the navy – Council of Ten • 3 District Heads serve this council for a month at a time • Expected to provide information on security of their districts • Govt was thus well-informed of all the districts

• Citizens’ Involvement in Ensuring Public Peace – Lord of Nightwatch (for every district) • • • In effect a police chief Maintained peace in district 100 -120 men hired to act as policemen People were thus given a chance to serve the district Reinforced their sense of belonging to the district and to Venice

• Trade Monopoly • 9 th to 15 th century : trading activities in Europe dominated by Venice, Genoa and the Hanseatic League • Venice most successful • Genoa : a city-state in Italian mainland • Lost to Venice in the competition of trade from 14 th C onwards

• Trade Monopoly • Hanseatic League : assn of trading states from Noerthern Europe • Main centre : Luebeck • Used difficult overland route to trade with the East • Controlled trading north of Europe • Unable to compete with Venice for dominance of eastern trade • Reason : Overland route through Russia was long and dangerous

• Trade Monopoly • Venice strategically located at the northern tip of Adriatic Sea • Central & Southern Europe relied on Venice for Eastern goods • Venetian Navy dominated Mediterranean Sea • Venetian traders used eastern Arab ports using a combination of overland sea routes • Venetian traders purchased Eastern goods and sold them at high prices to other European states • Made huge profits

• Trade Monopoly • Role as middlemen • Sold spices and valuable Eastern goods to Europe • Eg fragrant woods, sugar and diamonds • Sold Western products to East • Eg iron, glassware, wool

• Trade Monopoly • Central and southern Europe had no choice but to buy from Venice despite the high prices • Reason : Prices in Genoa and Hanseatic League were equally high • But Venice provided larger variety of goods as it dominated the eastern Mediterranean Sea

• Trade Monopoly • Venice not solely dependent on Eastern trade for survival • It also shipped essential goods like wheat and salt between European cities • By controlling the Adriatic Sea, it monopolised the valuable salt trade which was in great demand in Europe

• An Adventurous Spirit • Willingness to travel and explore • To seek fame and fortune • Venetians sailed as well as travelled overland in search of business, fortune and adventure • One famous Venetian family : the Polo family • Marco Polo the most famous of the Polo brothers • Venetian merchant, adventurer, and outstanding traveller • Journeyed from Europe to Asia in 1271 -95, remaining in China for 17 of those years • His Il milione ("The Million"), known in English as the Travels of Marco Polo, became a classic of travel literature.

• Provision of Trade Services – Banking • State bank established to guarantee stability, reliability and reputation of Venice’s banking system – Enhanced confidence to foreign traders – Insurance – Money-exchange

• Diversifying into Manufacturing – Factories to manufacture goods for export – High quality goods produced by skilled craftsmen • Glass, soap, textiles and metal parts – Book-printing industry – Attracted foreigners to seek employment • Foreigners closely monitored

• Attracting Foreign Talents – Freedom of culture was practised – Becoming a cosmopolitan city • Churches, Synagogues, Mosques – Traders, Artisans & Craftsmen invited • Formation of guilds and vocational clubs – Scholars • Attracted by the thriving book-printing industry • Loyalty to Venice – Willingness to sacrifice to protect Venice

Rise of Venice Note : 0 -2. 44 min is on rise of Venice Source : SS Teachers’ Resource CD (Upper Sec)/Practice of Good Governance CDR 2/SSS 4 RCD_B/06/Venice_Rise & Fall/2: 44

• Refer to Pages 164 and 165 of your Textbook

• Wars with the Ottoman Empire – Loss of men and wealth – Disruption of trade • Rise of Large States – France, Spain and England • Militarily stronger than Venice – Venice had no overlord to depend on – Double threat to Venice by 15 th century • France on the mainland territories in Northern Italy • Ottoman Empire on the coastal territories – Loss of coastal territories after peace treaty in 1503

• Discovery of a New Sea Route – Discovery of Cape of Good Hope by Vasco Da Gama (1497) • Europeans could travel to the East without going through Mediterranean Sea and Venetian ports • Venetian traders lost trade monopoly of Eastern goods • Venetian traders faced competition from European traders who had access to Eastern goods • Portuguese control of key areas in the East meant that Venetian traders had to visit Portuguese ports to get Eastern goods – Monopoly belonged to the Portuguese

• Competition from New Trade Rivals – New sea route generate greater interest in travelling to the East among European states • Britain (East India Company) • Dutch (Dutch East India Company) – Rivals had more financial resources and better ships • Dutch East India Company – Shareholder Company with government subsidies – Thirty Years War (1618 -1648) • Trade route between Venice and Europe affected • Holland became the dominant trading state in Europe

• Corruption in the Government – Candidates began to ‘buy’ offices by bribing members of the Nominating Committee • Small group of nobles dominating major posts in the government by 14 th century • Nobles who were poor & less educated were willing to vote for candidates who paid them well. • Political power concentrated among 100 men from some 30 families by mid 15 th century – Beginning of power abuse and personal interest • Dominance by rich nobles from 16 th century onwards – Desire for wealth & fame, not contribution to Venice’s success – Lodovico Manin

• Complacency of Venetian Society – Indulgence in luxury – Gambling – Insufficient volunteers to serve the navy • Incompetent Military Leaders – Rotation of offices • Failure to identify qualified men for top military posts • Nicolo da Canal (experienced ambassador) • Antonio Grimani (experienced financier)

• Over-dependence on Mercenaries – No conscription of citizens into army • Conscription was only practised in navy before the 16 th century – Reliance on volunteers and mercenaries – The Problem with mercenaries • Required a flourishing economy to maintain • Loyalty may sway

• Insensitivity towards Neighbouring States – Imposition of trade monopoly forcefully – Payment to pirates – Alienated most of the European states • No assistance to Venice in fighting the common enemy, the Ottomans

• The Expansion of France in 18 th century – Napoleon Bonaparte • Hoped to bring Europe under French control • Alliance formed to oppose Napoleon – Venice refused to join the alliance in order not to antagonise Napoleon • Napoleon still demanded Venice’s surrender – No strong leadership among the Venetian nobles – No more loyalty, selflessness and courage – Leaders abandoned Venice and fled – Venice surrendered on 12 May 1797

Fall of Venice Note : 2. 44 min onwards is on fall of Venice Source : SS Teachers’ Resource CD (Upper Sec)/Practice of Good Governance CDR 2/SSS 4 RCD_B/06/Venice_Rise & Fall/6: 18

• Importance of committed citizenry • Principles of Good Governance – Meritocracy – Transparency – Incorruptibility • Reasons for Venice’s fall – Failure to meet challenges of the new era • Importance in anticipating & responding to changes – Complacency

Source : SS Teachers’ Resource CD (Upper Sec)/Practice of Good Governance CDR 2/SSS 4 RCD_B/06/Lessons for Singapore/4. 55

Orientation Venice is built on 117 small islands, and has some 150 canals and 409 bridges (only three of which cross the Grand Canal). The historic centre is divided into six sestieri (quarters): San Marco, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio and Castello. It covers a deceptively small area (7. 6 sq km/3 sq mi) - if you don't get lost (which you will!), walking from Cannaregio in the northwest to Dorsoduro in the south should take only 30 minutes. The city's 'main street' is the Grand Canal, which passes each of the districts as it twists along the length of Venice from the railway station to San Marco. Source : http: //www. lonelyplanet. com/destinations/europe/venice/

Venetian merchant, adventurer, and outstanding traveler, who journeyed from Europe to Asia in 1271 -95, remaining in China for 17 of those years, and whose Il milione ("The Million"), known in English as the Travels of Marco Polo, became a classic of travel literature. Travels of the Polo family. Marco found his way paved by the pioneering efforts of his ancestors and especially of his father, Niccolò, and his uncle Maffeo. The family had traded with the Middle East for a long time, apparently reaching a position of considerable wealth and prestige. Although it is not quite clear if the family was actually of the nobility, the point lost much of its typically medieval relevance in a city of republican and mercantile traditions such as Venice. The Polos appear to have been shrewd, alert, and courageous; about 1260 they foresaw a political change in Constantinople, liquidated their property there, invested their capital in jewels, and set off for the Volga River, where Berke Khan, sovereign of the western territories in the Mongol Empire, held court at Sarai or Bulgar, according to the season. The Polos seem to have managed their affairs well at this provincial Mongol court, doubling their assets. When political events prevented their return to Venice, they traveled eastward to Bukhara (Bokhara), eventually ending their journey four years later (1265) at the Mongol court, probably at the summer residence of the grand khan--called Shang-tu (the Xanadu of the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge). Establishing friendly relations with the great Kublai Khan himself, they were eventually sent back to Europe as Kublai's ambassadors to the pope, carrying letters asking the pope to send Kublai one hundred intelligent men "acquainted with the Seven Arts"; they also bore gifts and were asked to bring back some oil from the lamp burning at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Marco himself had meanwhile been born in or around 1254. (This date, like nearly all the others concerning major events in his life, is conjectural. ) Nothing is known of his early years in Venice, although it seems fairly certain that he learned little or no Latin. He was a lad of 15 or 16 when he first met his father, on the latter's return from the East in 1269. Copyright © 1994 -2001 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. _