Venician Extinction

Years of glory rest upon Venice as an historically rich mercantile city-state. The city was originally founded as a province of the Roman Empire in the 6th century as a refuge for those fleeing invasions from the Lombards (an ancient Germanic people who barbarically invaded the north of Italy around the 570’s), and became the city of Venice before the dawn of the 9th century.

Its location, connecting its people to the east by the Adriatic and Mediterranean and the west via horseback, soon helped it grow into an early trading power. The Venetian trading empire grew as far as to reach Constantinople, the rest of Italy and the northern coast of Africa by the year 800. Also gaining complete control of the Adriatic Sea by the 10th century with the acquisition of the neighboring Dalmatian Coast. In fact, by the 1400’s Venice (which was now still an independent city-state) possessed a vast colonial empire which included Crete, Cyprus, most of the Dalmatian Coast (located in the present-day Balkans), and northeastern Italy. All silks, spices or other coveted valuables entered Europe from Asia by means of Venetian vessels, as they seemed to control the trade winds themselves.

As the Venetians prospered from trade, they invested their wealth in sea travel. Venetian ships aided in the 4th crusade, which was launched by Pope Innocent III. The crusaders, who were made up of mostly French noblemen, paid for a portion of their passage to Palestine by helping Venice’s cause against the Hungarians on the Dalmatian Coast. After successfully assisting the Venetians, Alexius IV joined the crusaders and persuaded the leaders to help him depose his uncle, Alexius III (who had taken the Byzantine Empire, headed in Constantinople, from his father Isaac II). In exchange, he promised large sums of money, aid to the Crusaders in conquering Egypt, and the prospect of a union of the Roman and the Eastern churches. All of the participants of this crusade were excommunicated by Innocent III for this, despite the fact that the actual decision to turn on Constantinople was largely brought about by pressure from the Venetians, who stood to become even richer from the spoils of such a battle. The fleet arrived in 1203 and the city fell soon there after. Venetians solidified their power and wealth with their prearranged portion of the bounty. In the year 1380, Venice defeated Genoa, a rival sea power, to gain complete control over trade in the east Mediterranean Sea. Venice’s naval power had a great impact on much of Europe and a greater impact on their own economy.

By the end of the 15th century, Venice, with their sought-after possessions, co

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