Founded in the wake of the decline of the roman empire, the republic of venice lasted for more than a thousand years, from 6971797, and in order to understand its singular position in world history, it is necessary to first note its geographical positioning and its topographical makeup. Venice came together around the time of the fall of the western roman empire, as refugees from various italian cities found themselves fleeing an onslaught of german and hun invaders. Its a new history, more compact than the magisterial history of venice by john julius norwich, but goes further by telling the history of venice from the fall of the. How a small city state rose to become a major mediterranean power and its eventual decline in influence. Get e books the republic of venice on pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi and audiobook for free. The history of the republic of venice traditionally begins with its foundation at noon on friday march 25, 421 by authorities from padua who hoped to establish a tradingpost in the region.
In the early 21st century venice had a population of more than 275,000. Venice is a unique city in the world, for its culture and history. Its survival would now wreak havoc on western civilization. Venice simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A dully contented english couple, mary and colin, get lost in the city and are rescued by. Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge thats often dif. Im not an expert on venice, but i very much enjoyed reading city of fortune. It existed for one thousand one hundred years, from the late 7th century until the late 18th century 1797, when it was conquered by napoleon. Venice, the slave trader of europe, so close to being destroyed, survived. During the 17th century venice gradually lost power and influence. The 11 best books and novels set in venice italy of 2020. Uniquely among italys chief cities, venice came into being after the fall of the roman empire in the west. In addition venice hosts a spectacular spring carnival with masked balls, a summer biennale, a film festival that is older than the one in cannes, france, and a regatta centered on the lido.
As comprehensive as it is engaging, john julius norwichs a history of venice is a complete history of the most beautiful and magical of cities. The books of venice il libro veneziano contains a series of essays in english and italian exploring venetian book history from the quattrocento through current production, books printed in the shadow of aldus manutius. A history of venice, by john julius norwich, is an indepth analysis of the history of the republic of venice from inception to its eclipse and demise. A history of venice by john julius norwich the great historian norwich marshals myriad personalities, battles, sieges and facts into a vivid portrait of the venetian republic spanning the 1,000 years up to its 1797 defeat at the hands of napoleon. The political, economic, and military decline of venice. The populations coming from mainland venice settled in the lagoon, fighting as hard as they could to survive. Its area is roughly 120 square miles 310 square kilometers. To appreciate the history and culture of the city, read joanne m.
A succinct, vividlywritten, and sweeping history of the city on the lagoon, and, moreover, of the most serene republic of venice that dominated mediterranean trade for centuries. Around the year ad the republic of venice started to create an empire in the eastern mediterranean sea. Approximate population of venice during the republic 5. Let me just highlight a few of the more outrageous statements. The history of the venetian empire and its influence across the mediterranean dives into the citys origin story, how it became one of the most important powers in europe, and its inevitable undoing. During the middle ages, venice slowly grew to become an important commercial city.
Republic of venice project gutenberg selfpublishing. However, after his fall in 1815 venice was handed to austria. The best onevolume history of venice in any language. Dalmatia will with some interruptions remain under venetian rule for nearly four centuries, until 1797. A concise history of italy second edition since its formation in 1861, italy has struggled to develop an effective political system and a secure sense of national identity. The republic of venice o nce upon a time the republic of venice was one of the richest, most powerful maritime nations on the planet. It was an important economic and trading power which was ruled by a leader called a doge. The science of saving venice caroline fletcher and jane da mosto, 2004. Venice, which worked with the turks to create a republic of usury and slavery.
List of books and articles about venetian history online. There are more than 1 million books that have been enjoyed by people from all over the world. Venice draws millions of visitors each year, and these lectures shed light on why the city is such a continual source of fascination. Besides, the book is heavyeven in paperbackand not designed to carry along in your suitcase. Here are my recommendations for books that take place in venice, all of which i have read and enjoyed. One of the best history reads ive ever experienced. Republic of venice simple english wikipedia, the free. In the 18th century, venice was politically unimportant although the arts such as opera flourished. Robert wilde is a historian who writes about european history. The city was founded by people from the greater veneto region as a refuge from the barbarian invasions, when the western roman empire fell. Steeped in the culture of wealth, opulence and merchant domination there were but a few families which controlled the great popolo of the veneto, one of. Norwichs a history of venice a guidebook i would give it one star for effort.
What is it about this ancient canalway city that piques the imagination. Pdf when folding the sheet, we would suggest placing pressure with your be folded, so that it might open up, but if you want to permanently remedy this problem, it is enough to apply a very small amount of glue. He is the author of the history in an afternoon textbook series. The isolated communities, literally islands of veneto. It has developed a romantic reputation built upon by countless movies. In the future, when people want to learn about venices history, theyll turn to this book first. It tells the story of venice, from the year the founding of the city until 1500 when venice lost most. Serenissima repubblica di venezia, was a state originating from the lagoon communities in the area of venice, now northeastern italy. The venice state archives hold miles of records and ancient documents that contain information from every aspect of ancient culture.
Venice is a city in italy, best known today for the many waterways which crisscross through it. Someone enroute to venice for a vacation might do better to pick up steve ricks latest book. It was a republic that lasted over years, had the most civilized and liberal constitution in the world during its whole existence, up until the creation of the united states of america. In addition, ottoman expansion in the eastern mediterranean disrupted venices trade in the levant and chipped away at its overseas empire. Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this. Then in 1797, napoleon dissolved the republic of venice. Currently, the municipality of venice funds the private company insula spa to coordinate maintenance projects throughout the city. The indignity would fester until venice joined the independent kingdom of italy in 1866. Some of the earliest printers in italy were venetian, and venice. Between the islands run about 150 canals, mostly very narrow, crossed by some 400 bridges. Much of the history of venice can be found right within the city. Always update books hourly, if not looking, search in the book search column. Although it had a long history of war and conquest.
We start with a coffee table book with stunning photos and author quotes. When venice rallied to resist the austrians in 18489, a blockade left it wracked by cholera and short on food. Venices books, like her art and architecture, have long been considered one of her greatest glories. By 1817, onequarter of venices population was destitute. The political, economic, and military decline of venice leading up to 1797. A history of venice by john julius norwich goodreads. Time out guide a warning i usually recommend the time out guides to italian cities, and the venice guide has proved useful in the past, with good tourist information and restaurant recommendations. Venitian conspiracy archive collection by webster tarpley. Any recommendations on good books on politics and military of venice. For the last 14 years insula has been responsible for maintaining all 182 canals, 433 bridges, and the rest of the 2. Now, adam mansbach and ricardo cortes reunite with seriously, just go to sleep, inviting. This necessary volume traces the rise of venice from its fifthcentury origins through 1797 when napoleon put an end to the thousandyearold republic. The city is governed by a doge dux latin, and the city became the capital of the venetian republic, which was once one of the major european powers, the venetian republic was one of the longest lasting in history for over 1100 years during the thirteenth and fourteenth century venice and genoa repeatedly clashed for supremacy in maritime trade.
However, the church believed to be saint giacomo di rialto dates back. The history of the republic of venice traditionally begins with the foundation of the city at noon on friday 25 march ad 421, by authorities from padua, to establish a tradingpost in that region of northern italy. History of the republic of venice project gutenberg self. A history of venice an encyclopedia of world history. Venice is an unnamed city of menace in mcewans slowbuilding shocker. The lombard hordes, whose incursions into northern italy began in ad 568, drove great numbers of mainlanders onto the islands of the lagoon, previously the homes of itinerant fishermen and salt workers. Renowned historian, and author of a short history of byzantium, john julius norwichs classic history of venice a history of venice tells the story of this most remarkable of cities from its founding in the fifth century, through its unrivalled status for over a thousand years as one of the worlds busiest and most powerful city states, until its fall at the hands of napoleon in 1797. Venice is a city that steals the hearts of readers and authors alike, as evidenced by some of literatures best books set in venice, italy. But a recent edition 2007 was a big disappointment, with gaps in the text, incorrect picture captions, editorial memoranda left in the text, and catastrophically incorrect map. Through its history, venice housed the worlds leading merchants, thrived as a maritime powerhouse, and developed into an independent republic not unlike the present united states. This readable introduction to the ecology of venices lagoon asks if venice can survive in the 21st century. One of americas greatest historians tackles the provocative history of venice in the 15th and 16th centuries.
History of the floating city 2012, which, according to library journal is the best book written to date on the venetian republic. It existed from the late 7th century ad until 1797. Go the f to sleep, the picture book for adults, became a cultural sensation by striking a universal chord for parents. A few of the best books about venice the slow road.
This new edition of christopher duggan s acclaimed introduction charts the country s history from the fall of the roman empire in the west to the present day and surveys. The first novels on the list are historical fiction that take place in the 16th to 18th centuries, followed by mysteries, and nonfiction books at the end. This event was marked by the founding of the venetian church of st. It lasted until 1797, when it was annexed by napoleons. The first human settlements on the venice lagoon islands date back to the 5th and 6th centuries, when the inhabitants from the mainland came to this semiswamp area to escape the barbaric invasions that followed the fall of the roman empire. Furthermore in 1630 venice was struck by plague again. Defeat at agnadello in 1509, followed by pressure from the spanish habsburgs in lombardy and the austrian habsburgs to the north of the republic, limited venices italian mainland empire. This thesis discusses the decline of the venetian nobility, the collapse of the venetian economy, and the political results of the surrender of the venetian republic to. Inhabitants from the neighbouring mainland seeking refuge from the savage barbarians who conquered italy after the fall of the roman empire, the history of venice began with the venetian lagoon offering a refuge. The history of venice like the city itself is unique.