How did Venice face challenges between the 15th and 18th century

Foreign ThreatsInvolvement in the mainlandMainland territories have been supplying Venice with impt resources like food & water- need to secure and maintain supply of resources for their growing populationOne way to do this is taking advantage of mainland rivalry, switching alliances regularlyEg. Venice created alliances with France and Spain when occasion suited interestMeant that Venice had fragile relations with big states- if negotiations failed, Venice would be attackedNo certainty in which alliance would benefit VeniceOttoman Empire

Ottoman Empire started expanding influence in 13th centuryOttoman Empire was greatest competitor for maritime control in 15th centuryVenice knew they couldn’t face large Ottoman army on its own

- Gave Ottoman Empire less impt territories to reduce lossesOttoman Empire acquired territories along the coast of Adriatic SeaOttomans launched attacks on Venice, disrupting use of galleys for trade purposes

- Wars with Ottomans drained Venice’s resources & disrupted tradeThe League of Cambrai1508, Military alliance against Venice formedLeague aimed to divide Venice’s territories among big statesMany territories fell to members of League

Maritime CompetitionDiscovery of new sea routes15th century – Age of exploration and discovery1497–Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, India, via Cape of Good HopePortuguese were hence able to buy spices directly from India, competing with Venice- Venice lost position as middleman for spice trade- Venice still remained a trade center in western MediterraneanVenice main supplier of Mediterranean goods like wine, raisins & Persian silkNew trade rivalsDutch bypassed Venetians to go to the East to get suppliesEast India Company brought cotton & pepper from India, tea & porcelain from ChinaDutch and British had better designed ships- though Venetians copied design, Venetian sailors lacked skills to operate themEngland and Holland more successful in negotiating for favourable trading rightsVenice imposed protectionist policy and higher duties on traders

Venice insisted maintaining monopolistic position- lost some of its trading partners

Political ChallengesIncapable leadershipShrinking number of nobility due to low birth rate and plagueNoble families married each other to concentrate wealthRotation of duties introduced

- No family could dominate govt for > 1 term- Competent leaders will not last for > 1 term too

Incompetent leaders were often selectedOffice was regarded as personal glory than service to stateNobles, previously scholars, competed to serve as naval commanders

- lack of military and naval expertise lead to heavy lossesCorruptible GovernmentGovt suspended salaries of civil servants for warsSome nobles became poor due to lack of source of income (trade)Poorer nobles sold their govt votes for high priceSale of position in govt led to incompetent leaders in office- decisions not made in interest of VeniceOver-dependence on mercenariesVenetian army employed many mercenaries from MediterraneanMore mercenaries were employed due to the decreasing population in VeniceSome of these mercenaries did not remain loyal to Venice due to better pay elsewhere1619 – large number of French mercenaries plotted to seize Ducal Palace and kill SenatesThough plot discovered by Council of Ten, it showed that Venice cannot trust mercenaries

Social ChallengesNobles became less involved in impt matters like admin and development of stateGap between noble and poor widenedVenetians pursued entertainment and pleasures as they became richerWealthy nobles indulged in lavish parties and celebrations

- Carnevale, sometimes lasting for as long as six monthsGambling halls grew as some nobles got addicted to gambling, thus losing their fortunes

The Fall of VeniceFailure to respond effectively to internal and external changesWeakening GovernmentLoss of overseas territories like ConstatinopleDiscovery of new sea routesRise of bigger and more powerful European countriesVenetian fortress and army outdated-When French invaded in 18th century, no noble capable to defend VeniceVenice rejected alliance against France by Italian statesSome Venetians even plotted to overthrow current Government12 May 1797 – Doge Ludovico Manin surrendered Venice to Napoleon without a fight]

Basis of Comparison

Political Challenges > Foreign ThreatsIf there was a capable government, foreign threats could be easily solved

Political Challenges > Maritime ChallengesIf there was a capable government, maritime challenges could be easily solved

Political Challenges > Social ChallengesIf there was a capable government, social challenges could be easily solved

Foreign Threats > Maritime ChallengesForeign threats caused Venice to lose impt land, while maritime challenges made trading harder for Venice

Foreign Threats > Social ChallengesForeign threats caused Venice to lose impt land, while social challenges just made it harder for Venice to recover

Maritime Challenges > Social ChallengesMaritime challenges caused Venice to gradually lose its steady flow of income, while social challenges caused Venetians to spend money that can be earned back later

Ottoman Empire > Involvement in MainlandInvolvement in mainland just made Venice an untrustable ally, but the Ottoman Empire caused Venice to lose part of its source of income

Ottoman Empire > League of CambraiSome parts of Venice’s territory was taken back by Venice from the League of Cambrai, but none of Venice’s former territory in the Ottoman Empire was returned

League of Cambrai > Involvement in MainlandLeague of Cambrai made Venice lose part of its flow of income, while involvement in mainland just made Venice an untrustable ally

Incapable Leadership > Corruptible GovernmentA capable leadership would stop corruption in the government

Incapable leadership > Over-dependence on MercenariesA capable leadership would solve the problem of the over-dependence on mercenaries

Over-dependence on Mercenaries > Corruptible GovernmentAn over-dependence on mercenaries would threaten the country’s safety immediately, while a corruptible government would affect the country’s economy after a period