Venice5th – 15th Centuries

Learning Outcomes

Explain the factorsthat led to the rise of Venice.

Explain the lessons that nations can draw from the rise of Venice.

Part 1Background

Italy2014

Where is Venice?

VeniceWhat was

like in the

5th-9th centuries?

VenetianSocietyThe early settlements consisted of small fishing villages.

Craftsmen, fishermen, and salt traders

Venice had an urban plan with an organised infrastructure• Little land for farming;• Dependent on mainland

Economic Activities

Capitalised on their skills in saltproduction and monopolizedsalt trade

Traded salt and fishes for grain

Established tradeagreements with communities along Po River to gain access to mainland and forest products

Obtained woodfor shipbuilding and trade with Middle East (for gold, spices etc.)

Government System

A vassal state of Byzantine Empire

Doge

Ducal Council

General Assembly

3-tiered Government System

Could elect own leader

(Doge)

Most experiencedofficial from ruling family

Appointed for life

Part 2Factors leading to the Rise of Venice between 9th and 15th Centuries

Rise of Venice

Leadership Reforms in Government

Trade Developments & Expansion

IndustrialDevelopment

Leadership

Doge Peietro II Orseolo

• established control in Adriatic Sea

Doge Enrico Dandolo

• directed the Fourth Crusade • captured Constantinople

• weakened the Byzantine Empire

Doge Pietro Ziani

• set up military outposts along important trade routes to safeguard Venice’s territorial control.

This marked the beginning of Venice’s growth as a maritime empire over the Mediterranean Sea.

How is this a reason for Venice’s rise?

Strong leadership in different aspects of the country’s development was needed.

Sound strategic decisions were made that enhanced the country’s political and economicstrengths.

By seizing control and managing the territories well, these capable leaders contributed in no small way to the rise of importance of Venice.

Leadership –Military Campaigns

Genoa

Capture of Constantinople in 12th Century

What are the implicationsfor Venice?

• Rival

• Territories

Constantinople

Defeat of Genoa in 14th

Century

What are the implicationsfor Venice

• Monopoly of trade in Mediterranean

ReformsMeeting New Challenges

ChallengeVenice’s trade was growing and the city-state was growing in influence, hence a capable and efficientgovernment was needed.

SolutionCreation of GreatCouncil in 12th

Century.

How does this solve the problem?

ChallengeWith growth of trade and wealth, there were more noble & influential families.

SolutionExpansion of Great Council in 13th Century.

How does this solve the problem?

Creationof the

Involve more noblesto serve and decide on

Venice’s future

Allow for specialization of

duties in law, finance, coinage, foreign

relations, commerce and fleets

Great Council Senate

Councilof

MaintainChecks and Balance

Monitor the activities of organisations to safeguard against corruption

Crush plots against the government

Limit the power of the Doge

Prevent concentration of power

Ensure best candidates for the election process

Doge Marin Falier

Tried to overthrowgovernment in 1355.

Sought to gain supreme power of dogeship.

Plans were discovered by Council of Ten and quickly

captured.

ChallengeVenice’s trade was growing and the city-state was growing in influence, hence the government needs to perform a wide rangeof duties.

SolutionReorganisation of Great Council

How does this solve the problem?

Council of

40created to handle matters of

Law Finances

Coinage

Senatecreated to take charge of

Foreign Affairs Commerce

Operation of Venetian Fleets

ReformsMaintain Checks & Balances

Why was there a need to check the power of the Doge?

What was done to check the power of the Doge?

Why was there a need to prevent the concentration of power in any individual or family?

What was done to prevent the concentration of power in any individual or family?

How is this a reason for Venice’s rise?

Venice made constant improvements to their system of government.

The Venice were able to respond to threats and challenges by ensuring strong politicalleadership.

With a growing population and prosperity, the structure of the government was also reformed to respond to greater demands.

Trade Development Innovation& Enterprise

Skilled Diplomats

• obtain favourable tradingterms (lower taxes, brought in highly prized spices from the East)

Explorers

• explored new trade routes, supplies and markets, beyond Middle East to China e.g. Marco Polo

Foreign Traders

• established permanent tradingposts in the city state – Arabs, Armenians, Greeks and Africans

MARCOPOLO

How is this a reason for Venice’s rise?

By having an adventurous spirit, Venetian merchants and explorers were able to expand their trade which led to rapid economic growth.

The increase in variety of valuable products traded created a lot of wealth for the country.

Innovation inMaritime technology

Nautical Chart

• provided information about known voyages (landmarks, distance, ports) for more accurate planning

Mariner Compass

• Improved visibility in winter for trade in the Mediterranean throughout the year

Advanced

Shipbuilding Technology

Venetian fleets

propelled by both oars and sails and need not depend solelyon the wind, allowing swift travel over long distance.

Great Galley

built in the 13th Century was a combination of a merchant and a war vessel to deter pirates.

GREATERThis leads to

Trade expansion & Territorial control

How is this a reason for Venice’s rise?

Venice took advantage of the opportunities in maritimetechnology during the 13th Century

The increase in variety of valuable products traded create a lot of wealth for the country.

ChallengeVenice’s trade was growing and the city-state was growing in influence, hence the government needs to perform a wide rangeof duties.

SolutionReorganisation of Great Council

How does this solve the problem?

Trade Development Efficiency in Managing Voyages

More frequent

More goods

Set up a management system to organise and monitor schedule of trade voyages.

Grouped traders and ordered them to travel in convoys as it was more profitable to trade in larger quantities and greater trade volume.

How did these developments lead to the rise of Venice?

Technology Senate

Reasons

Safety

• Protect one another during pirate attacks

Increased Profits

• Price-fixing of goods and no bargaining

No Time Loss

• Coordinate arrival timing with other traders for efficiency

Reliability

• Consistency in arrival timing and the variety of goods

Trade Development Edging out Other Competitors

Military Campaigns against Genoa – a tradecompetitor.

Genoa was defeated in late 14th Century, and this led to more trade

Provision of wide variety of goods from the East

e.g.

Why was Venice able to do that?

Spices Sugar Diamonds

Trade Monopoly

Venice’s strategiclocation at the northern tip of Adriatic Sea, Central and Southern Europe

Use of a combination of land and sea routes to Arabia

Able to provide greatervariety of goods than Genoa or the Hanseatic League (trading states of Northern Europe)

How is this a reason for Venice’s rise?

With superior ships that were able to travel further and strong enough to repel pirate attacks enabled Venice to obtain exotic products from the Middle East and China for which there was a huge demand

Monopolising the trade routes in Europe enabled Venice to raise the prices

• Made large profits as European states had to buy from Venice and not from other states

With all-year round travel, expansion of trade and territorial control led to

More Ships calling at Venice

Increased Trade A Higher Level of Economic

Prosperity.

Industrial Development Industries

All shipbuilders centralised at the Arsenal around 1100, producing great galleys.

• Why was the Arsenalthe backbone of Venice’s power?

Shipbuilding GlassmakingExquisite glassware demanded all over Europe.

Skilled craftsmen from other parts of Europe attracted to settle downand work in Venice.

Shipbuilding Glassmaking

Print

New industries such as printing emerged

How is this a reason for Venice’s rise?

Venice’s trade expansion encouraged its industrial development. Craftsmen were well-paid and this attracted other craftsmenfrom Europe and surrounding region to settle in the city-state

Arsenal, the shipbuilding centre became the backbone of Venice’s maritime industry and power

The success of the industries and particularly its maritime trade brought Venice wealth and recognition.

Industrial Developments Innovative Practices

Standardised columns of credit and debit columns and entries

Useful system to recordtransactions.

Double-entry, rather than single entry, helps to prevent errors.

• How did this facilitate trade?

Double-entry booking

Industrial Developments Innovative Practices

Giro-bankingTraders can make or receivepayment by making the requestat the bank.

No need to carry large amounts of cash and different currencies.

Allow for loans and severaltransactions to be made in a day

• How did this facilitate trade?

How is this a reason for Venice’s rise?

The Venetians were highlyinnovative as seen in the new ways of conducting business.

Trade efficiency increased and Venice’s economy expanded.

Part 3Venice at its Peak of Development

Political StabilityStrong & stable government-controlled territories along important trade routes, especially around the

Mediterranean Sea

• Why was this important?

Adriatic Sea

• Strong navy was able to suppress piracy

• How did this influence other developments of Venice?

Economic Prosperity

Trade

• Monopolised trade in the region.

Manufacturing

• Venetian goods renowned for their quality.

• Talented craftsmen were well-paid

• Trade unions and guilds were formed to ensure job securityand quality of goods produced.

What are the implications of economic prosperity?

Social Transformation

Cosmopolitan City-state

Attracted foreign talents

• promoted migration(owing to labour shortage)

Renowned as Centre of the Arts in Europe

• Government funds were provided to support the development of Universities for scientific and literaryfields

Scientific & Literary DevelopmentsVenetian universities attracted many foreignnobles as the government provided funds to attractdistinguishedprofessors.

Venetian professors explored new areas of knowledge like astrology& astronomy.

Artistic AchievementsFamous for its mosaic art (broken pieces of coloured tiles, stones or glass put together to form pictures).

Attractivedestinationfor those who embarked on Grand Tour.

Why was Venice able to develop aesthetically?

Question of the DayThe enterprising spirit of the Venetians was the most critical factor that enabled Venice to emerge as a great city-state.

How far do you agree with this statement?

“

”

Summary Rise of Venice

Leadership

Diplomacy

Military Campaigns

Reforms in Government

Meet Challenges ofGrowing City-State

MaintainChecks & Balances

Trade Developments & Expansion

Innovation & Enterprise

Efficiency in Managing Voyages

Edge Out Other Competitors

IndustrialDevelopment

Industries

Innovative Practices

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