-
In 1000 c.e. the Venetian islands united under a single Empire to be ruled by a doge (Duke in local dialect).
-
The San Marco Basilica has a Byzantine design. It has 5 vaulted domes and golden mosaics which are all popular in Byzantine churches. It is a great example of the Venetians being inspired by the Byzantines.
-
Venice's organization changed to a republic due to its growing territory and wealth. This caused the doge to lose his monarchic power and become an official. Many councils were also made to help the organization of the city-state such as the Council of 10 (1310) which was created to stop attempts on a personal rule.
-
In the years of 1147-1149, the Venetians helped the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Comnenus defeat the Normans but offended him with their aggressive behavior. This dislike between the Byzantines and Venetians turned into hatred. The emperor of Byzantium encouraged other Italian republics such as Genoa and Pisa to compete in the Byzantine markets against the Venetians. The Venetians were angry and destroyed the establishments of their rivals.
-
The Byzantine emperor instructed that all the Venetians in Constantinople should be arrested and their goods were taken away.
-
During the 4th crusade, the Venetians along with others managed to capture Constantinople.
-
The Byzantine emperor granted the Genoese rights for trading in the Black Sea because the Genoese helped the Byzantines recover the city of Nicaea. This challenged the Venetians in the monopoly of trade. The Venetians kept having control over the Greek islands and managed to have partial favor in Byzantium through a series of treaties.
-
In 1291 the last Crusader fort fell to the Ottomans and the Venetians who had been taken off their land moved near the Black Sea to share the trade with the Genoese.
-
In 1300 c.e., Venice's maritime empire was formed. It was formed by refugees who fled Northern Italy to escape Germanic Lombards. They originally traded fish and salt locally but the trade quickly increased and Venice grew very wealthy.
-
The Peace of Turin was signed ending the war with Genoa with Venice coming out as a winner. It was also used to stop any Genoan influence on the Mediterranean and the east.
-
In 1400 c.e., the territorial empire of Venice was established. By 1454 Venetian conquests had almost reached Milan. Many of the places grew into great trading centers and grew very wealthy.
-
Francesco Foscari became the doge of Venice. He started wars in the mainland of Italy and especially against Milan
-
The Doges' palace is a great example of Venetian architecture. It has a combination of Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance architectural traditions.
-
The Peace of Lodi was a treaty between Venice and Milan. Because of it, there was 40-year long peace. Power was balanced among Venice, Milan, Naples, Florence, and the Papal States.
-
To be able to maintain the existing boundaries the Italian League was also set up. It was quick to be accepted by most Italian city-states. Members of the league had to promise to provide military aid and defend each other in case of an attack.
-
The Decline of the maritime empire was started by the Ottomans after the Venetian territories in the east were taken by the Ottomans.
-
The league collapsed because the system of the league was not totally effective in times of war because the city-states continued to pursue their own interests.
-
The League of Cambrai was another power that went against Venice. Formed on December 10, 1508, by Pope Julius II, Maximilian I, Louis XII of France, and Ferdinand II of Aragon. It was an alliance and was apparently to protect the members from the Turks but it was actually to attack Venice and steal its possessions.
-
The war against the League of Cambrai lasted 8 years and resulted with Venice losing. Venice managed to regain all of its mainland territories later.
-
In 1510, the League of Cambrai collapsed after the Pope switched sides and joined Venice and Ferdinand of Aragon became neutral.
-
In 1511, the Holy League was formed. Ferdinand joined with the Pope and Venice in the Holy League. The Holy League was against French power in Italy.
-
Painters in Venice gradually shifted and colors and played with light and shadow to suggest depth.Trading with the East brought Venice luxury exotic pigments and trade with Northern Europe brought the technique of oil painting.In the 17th century Venetian artists made many different innovations in art such as asymmetry, new topics such as landscapes and started using pliable canvas more, while they also tried different approaches to texture by using thick or thin brush strokes.
-
In 1669, the Ottomans took Crete, the last Venetian possession in the east. Venice was also having an economic crisis because of this because the eastern market was lost and the discovering of new countries (West) and trade routes (East) made Europeans free from Venetian markets. Venice was a Mediterranean power and lacked the advantage that other Atlantic powers had direct access to the New World.
-
The fall of the republic started with the French Revolution because Napoleon was determined to destroy the Venetians oligarchy. On May 12, 1797, the last doge was deposed and Venice was handed over to Austria.
-
Austria was defeated by the Prussians in 1866 and Venice was given up to Italy.
