1. The Rise and Fall of Venice
Geography is Destiny
The Rise and Fall of Venice

2. History of Venice
A group of islands make up the Italian city-state of Venice
The area around Venice has very poor soil, making agriculture close to impossible.
In order to survive, the Venetians turned to the sea.
The Venetians became expert sailors and shipbuilders
Over time, the Venetians were able to monopolize in salt trading by capturing the salt-producing areas of the Adriatic Sea.

3. Venice

4. Big Ideas Venice was a major commercial power during the Renaissance.
As a result of their trading around the Mediterranean, the Venetians became extraordinarily wealthy.
The Venetians used this wealth to help promote the Renaissance in their city.

5. Key Terms
Monopoly – Occurs when a certain person or group controls a commodity in the marketplace
Doge – The ruler of Venice
Genoa – The trading rivals of Venice
St. Mark – The patron saint of Venice

6. The Grand Canal

7. St. Mark’s Square

8. St. Mark’s Basilica

9. The Horses of St. Mark

10. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Political Factors
Exemplary political system
Fair electoral system
Capable and committed leadership
Effective system of checks on power
Practical policies
Strong navy

11. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Political Factors
Exemplary political system
Strong government – Aristocratic Republic (leaders elected from nobles)
No dominance of power by families

12. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Political Factors
Fair electoral system
Nominating committee formed by Great Council (balloting)
Prevented dominance of power by a family/ individual
No election campaigns = no rivalries
Voting by Great Council to prevent incompetent officers from holding office
Short term (6 months – 2 years) = no individual has too much power
No more than one member allowed from a noble family in the Ducal Council = spread power, prevent nepotism

13. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Political Factors
Capable and Committed Leadership
Venice was ruled by the Doge.
Forward looking, capable
Fine those who refused to take up office

14. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Political Factors
Effective system of checks on power
Signoria made crucial decisions
Close checks on election process and officers’ performance
Council of Ten looked out for any possible attempts at monopolizing power
Membership at the council limited to 1 yr; no more than 1 member from the same family
Elected leaders could not abuse their power

15. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Political Factors
Practical Policies
Paid pirates to stop harassing trading ships until navy was strong enough
Establish friendly relations with Muslim traders despite war (preserve trading opportunities)
Captured weak trading ports in Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, captured important ports like Cyprus and Crete

16. Trade with the Ottomans
The Venetians engaged in trade with the Ottomans.
Since the Church outlawed trade with the Ottomans (a Muslim empire), the Venetians created an elaborate lie in order to justify their involvement.

17. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Political Factors
Strong Navy
Captured trading ports
Enforce maritime laws
Protected Venice from attacks
Forced ships to call at Venice ports = collect taxes
Control trade routes
Different ships for different purpose

18. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Economic Factors
Trade monopoly
An adventurous spirit
Provision of trade services
Diversifying into manufacturing

19. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Economic Factors
Trade Monopoly
Venice dominated the Mediterranean Sea, used Arab ports where spices can be found (using land and sea routes)
Brought variety of goods from East and sold them to European states at large profits.
Venetians acted as middlemen
Central and Southern Europe dependent on Venice for goods (spices, fragrant woods, sugar, diamonds, iron, glassware, wool) from the East
Controlled Adriatic Sea and monopolized the salt trade

20. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Economic Factors
An adventurous Spirit
Sailed and traveled over land in search of business, fortune and adventure (Eg. Polo Family, Marco Polo)
Went as far as China, east of Indian Ocean, south of Africa, Arab states and the Far East to trade

21. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Economic Factors
Provision of Trade Services
Banking, insurance, money exchange services
Credit banking facilities, use of cheques, charged interest for lending money
Insurers to bear risks involved in shipping
Government established state bank to guarantee stability and reliability of banking system
Provides confidence to foreign traders

22. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Economic Factors
Diversify into Manufacturing
Set up factories to manufacture goods for export (glass, soap, textiles, book-printing) at affordable prices
Many foreigners came to look for jobs
Skilled craftsmen not allowed to leave the city state
Government controlled export of raw materials

23. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Social Factors
Commenda system
Attracting foreign talents
Loyalty to Venice

24. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th Century
Social Factors
Commenda system
The commenda system encouraged social mobility by allowing two partners to work out a shipping agreement.
One member would sponsor a voyage while the other would undertake it.
Over time the two would accumulate wealth.

25. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Social Factors
Attracting Foreign Talents
Greeks, Jews, Turks considered Venice their homeland
Freedom of faith, respecting one another
Welcomed competitors as they contributed to centre of arts and trade (artisans, scholars)
Privileged memberships at guild houses for skilled artisans (to attract them to Venice)
Equal opportunities given to foreigners

26. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Social Factors
Loyalty to Venice
Personal sacrifices to raise funds for defense
Rallied to Venice’s defense when Genoa threatened Venice’s existence in the late 14th century

27. Rise of Venice: 9th – 15th century
Venice as a Centre of the Arts
Wealth from trade led to development and flourishing of the arts
Famous for architecture, paintings and mosaics.

28. Venice Review Questions
Why did the Venetians turn to the sea for their livelihood?
Why is a monopoly bad in an economy?
What is a Doge?
Explain the commenda system.
Explain how Venice’s political and economic factors contributed to their success.

29. Decline of Venice External Factors Internal Factors
Wars with the Ottoman Empire
Rise of Large States
Discovery of new sea route
Competition from trade rivals
Internal Factors
Corruption in the government
Elimination of the commenda system

30. Decline of Venice External Factors Wars with the Ottoman Empire
Ottomans captured many overseas colonies and sea routes from Venice
Controlled many coastal territories along the trade routes

31. Decline of Venice External Factors Rise of Large States
France, Spain, England had more resources and manpower than Venice
Venice sandwiched and had no overlord – left to defend itself
Northern Italy threatened by France in 15th century; coastal territories attacked by Ottoman Empire
Venice safeguarded mainland territories and was defeated by the Ottoman Empire – Peace treaty 1503

32. Decline of Venice External Factors Discovery of new sea route
Short cut to India via Cape of Good Hope
Bypass Venetian traders and traded directly with the East
Destroyed Venice monopoly and reduced profits
Portuguese captured Malacca in 1511 shipped spices from SEA to Portugal – Venetians must stop at Portugal port on the way to the East in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean
Wanted to cut a canal through Suez but too costly

33. Decline of Venice External Factors Competition from New Trade Rivals
More interest from other states to trade in the East
Traveled directly to the East to trade
1600, EIC (East India Company) specialized in trading of tea and porcelain from China, cotton and pepper from India => bypassing Venice
1602, Dutch EIC formed
richer and better ships than Portugal and Venice
Well-organized system
Thirty years War in Europe saw greater involvement from Netherlands in trading activities
Destroyed trading centers
States preferred trading with Netherlands than Venice

34. Decline of Venice Internal Factors Corruption in the Government
High taxes imposed; salaries of civil servants suspended to finance the Ottoman war
Led to unhappiness
Senate chose candidate who paid highest price for the post; candidate bribed the Great Council to vote for him
Small group of nobles controlling major political posts
Moved from one office to another (not allowed to hold the same office for more than a year)
Poor and not well-educated nobles were not given a chance to hold important post => Vote for candidates who paid them well
Abuse their power, share no common goal

35. Decline of Venice Internal Factors Elimination of the commenda system
Powerful families wanted to consolidate their power so their eliminated the commenda system.
This effectively halted social mobility in Venice.