CHAPTER 3 VENICE – A Great City-State Of Its

Time
Background of Europe from 1st Century
 In 1AD, Roman Empire was the only major power in Europe.
 It faced many challenges, such as external threats, internal strife and little
economic growth.
 In 285 AD, Roman Emperor divided empire into 2 parts to better manage
empire.
 Known as Western and Eastern Roman Empire.
 Western Roman Empire declined due to repeated conflict with Germanic
tribes from Central and Eastern Europe.
 476AD, Western Roman Empire collapsed and split into smaller kingdoms
and territories.
 Frequent warfare as kingdoms competed for territories.
 Eastern Roman Empire, also known as Byzantine Empire, survived due to
favorable geographic position allowed it to control trade in Adriatic Sea,
Black Seas and Middle East.
 However, came under attacks by Germanic tribes in west and Muslim
kingdoms in east.
 Venice thereby emerged and eventually grew to become an empire.

1. Venice between 5th and 9th Centuries

1.1 Geography
 Venice located in northern Italy.
 Consisted of cluster of 120 small islands situated 3km away from
mainland.
 Islets are in a lagoon.
 Deep channels of water run in between islets.
 To west of lagoon is Po River.
 Several salt marshes on lagoons, in early centuries, which became
profitable resource for Venetians.
 Venice strategic location contributed to development as city-state and rise
as maritime empire.

1.2 Early Settlers

1.2.1 Life of early Venetians

 Early settlers in Venice were refugees from Roman cities in mainland
escaping raids by Germanic tribes in 5th and 6th centuries.
 Venice was suitable area of protection against raids as made up of
numerous swampy islands.
  Germanic tribes knew little of sea and realizing there were no natural or
rich resources on islands, they turned attention on richer mainland.
 Early Venice settlements consisted of small fishing villages.
 They included men who had knowledge of crafts, fishing and salt
production.
 They became seamen since small land meant agriculture could not be
practiced on large scale.
 Depended heavily on mainland states for food and raw materials.
 Venetians constructed system which rainwater could be collected in
communal wells, so settlement would have constant water supply.

1.2.2 Venetian society

 Venetians created urban planning system to organise way they lived and
worked.
 System of administration created sense of belonging and neighbourliness
among Venetians.
 Foundation of Venice’s social stability.
 Venice divided into 6 districts.
 Houses were built close to each other since land was scarce.
 Hardly any distinction between rich and poor.
 Each of islets had own market place and church with central square.
 During festive occasions, people would gather in square for celebrations,
which allowed poor and rich to interact.

1.2.3 Economic activities

 Early Venetians took advantage of their knowledge of salt production.
 Venice able to monopolize salt trade in region.
 Boatmen traded salt and fish for grain with the communities along Po
River.
 Through establishing trade agreements with different communities, they
dominated region where river mouth and surrounding mainland.
 Gain access to mainland and forested areas.
 Venice able to obtain source of wood from trading and ship building.
 Wood traded with Middle-Eastern states in return for valuable goods such
as gold, spices and incense.
 Venice recognized as rising trade power from 7 th Century.
 Byzantines even relied on Venice to protect some territories along Italian
shores.

1.2.4 System of government

 Although Venice was vassal state (state under control) of the Byzantine
Empire, Venetians allowed to choose own leaders through elections.
 Leader known as Doge, was most experience official and chosen from
ruling families of Venice.
 Doge was appointed for life.
8th to 10th centuries government structure:
Doge → Ducal Council → General Assembly

 Doge assigned 2 advisers who form Ducal Council.

 Ducal Councillors select men who were eligible for dogeship.
 General Assembly function was to elect Doge.
 They passed laws on essential issues such as trade and housing.

1.3 Challenges faced by early Venetians

1.3.1 Piracy
 By the 10th century, Byzantine Empire’s control of territories was
weakening as faced increasing threat from Arabs.
 Byzantine could not provide Venice protection it needed against
increasing privacy in Adriatic Sea.
 Venice had not built strong navy and unable to defeat the pirates.
 Venetian traders decided to pay annual gifts to them so they could have
safe passage along Adriatic Sea.
 Venetian ships also travelled in convoys for safety.

1.3.2 Maintaining diplomatic relations

 From 5th Century, Venice established good terms with Germanic tribes
who set up kingdoms on Italian peninsular.
 At the same time, Venice remained vassal state of Byzantine Empire.
 Venice wanted to maintain friendship with Byzantine emperor and
Germanic kings who were rivals.
 Due to Venice being middleman for Eastern products which were sold to
countries in Europe.
 Difficult to trade in mainland because of rivalry among mainland states.
 Venetian leaders turned to establishing friendly relations with the states
and negotiated for favourable trading terms to expand its trade.
 Maintaining diplomatic relations with neighbours was challenges in
following centuries when Europe underwent changes.

[ Europe at beginning of 10th Century ]

 After centuries of warfare, Germanic tribes which invaded Europe settle
down and establish kingdoms and cities.
 Farming resumed and food production gradually increased.
 Increase in food production facilitated growth of trade as surplus food
exchanged for other goods.
 Cities become prosperous as they became centres for trade.
 Prosperity led to rise of institutes of learning which eventually transform
Europe to centres of art and architecture.
2. *Rise of Venice

2.1 Leadership
 Capable leaders contributed to rise of Venice.
 Some made outstanding contributions in growth and development of
Venice as they were far-sighted.

2.1.1 Establishing control in the Adriatic Sea

 Doge Pietro II Orseolo was a capable leader who felt that peace in
region would boost trade.
 He reconciled feuding cities, negotiated treaties with major powers and
subdued pirates in Dalmatia.
 Maintained friendship with Byzantine emperor in East and established
relations with Germanic kings in the West to protect Venice’s
independence and obtain favourable trading terms.
 Created trade links with Muslim states in North Africa.
 He felt it was necessary to bring piracy under control.

2.1.2 Building Venetian Empire

 Doge Enrico Dandolo directed the Fourth Crusade under command of
Pope Innocent III in 12th Century.
 Crusade was military campaign to free Jerusalem (holy cities) from Muslim
control.
 It became a campaign to overthrow Byzantine Emperor and take over
capital at Constantinople.
 Weakened Byzantine Empire and helped Venice rise further.
 Venice thereby gained recognition from other states.
 It controlled some of the important territories which belonged to fallen
Byzantine Empire.

2.1.3 Expanding the Venetian empire in Mediterranean Sea

 Doge Pietro Ziani succeeded Doge Enrico in 1205.
 Capture of Constantinople marked beginning of Venice’s growth as
maritime empire.
 Need to set up military outposts along important trade routes.
 Doge Pietro expanded trade through conquests.
 He helped ensure Venice gained control of important routes in
Mediterranean Sea.

2.2 Reforms in the government

10th Century:
Doge → Ducal Council → General Assembly

12th to 18th Century:

Doge → Ducal Council → The Council of Forty & The Senate → Great
Council → General Assembly

2.2.1 Meeting challenges of growing city-state

Creation of the Great Council
 Great council was to elect capable members to all councils in the
government.
 Settled disputes between members of different councils, passed laws,
meted out punishments and granted pardons to criminals.
 Members of Great Council came from the most influential families.
 With growth of nobility, there was competition to serve the government.
 To prevent rivalry from destabilizing the government, Great Council
expanded in 13th Century.
 More nobles had opportunity to decide on Venice’s future.

Specialisation of duties
 As Venice grew, need to reorganize duties of Great Council.
 More committees were created to handle affairs of state.
 13th Century, Council of Forty created. Handled law, finances and coinage
(making coins) matters.
 With expansion of trade and establishment of foreign relations with more
countries, 60-member Senate was added to act jointly with Council of
Forty.
 Senate took charge in foreign relations, commerce and operations of
Venetian fleets.

2.2.2 Maintaining checks and balances

Effective checks of power
 14th Century, Doge, 6 Ducal Councillors and 3 Heads of Council of Forty
formed the Council of Ten.
 Council of Ten monitored activities of organisations and officials to ensure
there were no corrupt practices or abuse of power by Doge or high
ranking official.
 Any plot to threaten government would be crushed.
 No one was above the law, including Doge himself.
 Great Council exercised its authority by limiting the power of the Doge.
 Doges were forced into exile or arrested by Council of Ten for corrupt
practices such as nepotism (favouritism towards family members) or
attempting to be too powerful.
 Eventually, Council of Ten handled confidential and critical matters such
as putting an end to treason.
Preventing the concentration of power
 Nominating Committee added to election process to identify suitable male
candidates for all elected positions through the process of balloting.
 Purpose of balloting was to prevent any individual or family from
dominating the government.
 Nobles not allowed to campaign for support in election, thus rivalry was
discouraged and no one could be appointed as a result of personal favour.
 Nobles appointed were not allowed to reject the position.
 Ensure all positions of responsibility in government were filled up.

2.3 Trade developments and expansion

2.3.1 Attitude towards trade

 Venetians were skilled diplomats and able to obtain favourable trading
terms such as lower tax rates than competitors.
 Able to bring highly-prized spices from East.
 Venetian traders maintained a competitive edge over competitors such as
Genoa, another rising Italian city-state.
 Venetians possessed an enterprising spirit.
 Venetians explored new trade routes, supplies and markets by travelling
to unknown land.
 Example is the Polo family which took calculated risks to extend trade
further beyond Middle East.
 Exploration of overland trade route to China earned Venice good relations
with countries in the Far East, which enabled Venice to expand its trade.
 Wealth created by trade with Asia turned Venice into greatest cities in
Europe.
 Foreign traders travelled to Venice, and established permanent trading
posts in city-state.

2.3.2 Innovations in maritime technology

 13th Century, advances in maritime technology in Europe in areas of
navigation and weaponry used on ships.
 Nautical chart present information collected from voyages such as
distance and important landmarks. Traders plan their journey more
accurately.
 Mariner’s compass ensured ships stayed on course.
 Advanced technology, travels become possible in winter and poor
weather, enabling Venice to continue to dominate trade in Mediterranean
Sea.
 Venice designed and built superior vessels to meet sailing needs.
 Venetian fleets propelled by oars and sails that do not depend solely on
wind.
 Merchant and battle fleets travel further, facilitating the expansion of trade
and territorial control.
  Venetian great galley built as combination of merchant and war vessel.
 Formidable enough to discourage most pirates from launching attack on
Venetian trading ships.

2.3.3 Efficiency in managing voyages

 Maritime technology enables efficiency in arrival and departure of
voyages.
 Voyages more frequent as Venetian traders able to travel during winter.
 Great galleys also capable of transporting more goods.
 Senate came up with an effective management system so as to make full
use of maritime advances to oversee rapid expansion of trade and
territorial control.
 Organised and monitored schedule of trade voyages.
 Grouped traders and ordered them to travel in convoys as more profitable
to trade in large quantities.
 Efficiency meant Venice was able to expand its trade into many regions.

2.3.4 Overcoming trade competition

 Main trade competitor Venice faced was Genoa, which was also
dependent on maritime trade.
 Genoa competed fiercely with Venice especially in Mediterranean Sea and
Black Sea.
 At Genoa ports, Venetian traders risked confiscating and looting by
Genoese when trading there. Venetian controlled ports were also
unfriendly to Genoese traders.
 At sea, Genoa attacked commercial fleets belonging to Venice and took
over cargoes. Venice did the same to Genoa.
 Venice and Genoa had conflict of political and commercial interests which
resulted in many wars.
 After series of wars, Venice defeated Genoa in later 14 th Century.
 From then on, Venetian control the Mediterranean Sea which resulted in
more international trade.

2.3.5 Trade monopoly

 9th to 15th Century, trading activities in Europe dominated by Venice,
Genoa and Hanseatic League.
 Venice was most successful among them.
 After Genoa’s defeat by Venice in 14th Century, Venice gained monopoly
in Mediterranean region.
 Central and Southern Europe relied on Venetians for goods from East
such as spices, sugar, and diamonds.
 Venetian traders went to Arabian ports such as Alexandria and Hormuz to
buy and sell goods to other European states.
 The goods were sold at very high price, enabling Venetian traders to reap
large profits.
  Venice able to provide large variety of goods to the East.
 Made possible as Venice’s navy dominated the region.
 European states had very little choice other than to buy them from Venice.

2.4 Industrial Development

2.4.1 Trade-related industries

 Ship-building industry benefited the expansion of trade.
 Initially, ship building industry was small and scattered all over Venice.
 After advances in maritime technology, around 1100 ship builders were
centralised at a new location known as Arsenal.
 Reason for setting up Arsenal was to prevent overcrowding and minimise
noise pollution at its main trading port in the lagoon.
 When demand for great galleys increased in 13 th Century, Arsenal
expanded to facilitate production.
 Eventually, Arsenal became backbone of Venice’s maritime industry and
power.

2.4.2 Manufacturing Industries

 With trade expansion, Venetians gained more wealth.
 Led to increase in demand for goods which promoted manufacturing
industries.
 Most well-known was glassmaking industry which concentrated on
Murano.
 Venetians also produced candles and scented soap.
 New industries began to emerge, such as printing industry which serves
the large reading population in Venice.
 With new industries, more jobs were created for people and Venice
continued to prosper.
 The attracted skilled craftsmen from other parts of Europe settle down and
work in Venice.

2.5 Innovative Practices

 Venice introduced innovative practices in trade and business.
 Double-entry bookkeeping: Record business transactions and amount of
goods in possession. Useful system to record business transactions. Help
meet needs of business.
 Giro-banking: Do not have to carry large amounts of money and different
currencies. Giro-banking allows making or receiving payment by request
of bank. Able to carry out several transactions a day and check if there are
sufficient funds.
 Thus, trade was further facilitated.
 Many traders come to Venice as they enjoyed convenience and efficiency
of Venetian’s trader-related services.
3. Venice at the peak of its development
 By 15th century, Venice transformed into maritime empire.
 Territories it acquired expanded its trade and protected commercial
interests.
 Venice’s success generated wealth and coupled with expansion of
manufacturing industries, it attracted many foreigners to settle down.

3.1 Territorial Possessions

 Venice possessed territories along important trade routes, especially
around Mediterranean Sea.
 Territories were important as they allowed Venice galleys to replenish their
supplies without incurring more costs, before sailing to destinations.
 The stops also allowed large crew of oarsmen to rest.
 Territories captured in Fourth Crusade strengthen Venice maritime
authority over Mediterranean region.
 Venice’s success at suppressing piracy, consolidate its control over
Adriatic Sea region.
 Venice established its dominant commercial power.

3.2 Social transformation

3.2.1 A cosmopolitan city-state

 Success of its maritime trade brought Venice wealth and recognition.
 Foreign traders were attracted at ease they could conduct their
commercial activities.
 Many merchants ended up settling down in Venice.
 Venice faced serious labour shortage in manual occupations such as
galley’s oarsmen.
 Shortage of labour further aggravated by ‘Black Death’ plague in 1347.
 Fluctuations in population prompted Venetian government to create ways
to promote migration to Venice.
 Merchants and skilled craftsmen in Europe were offered special incentives
like housing and citizenship to live in Venice.
 Policy ensured city-state would have enough people to sustain
commercial activities.
 Venetian society became more diverse and cosmopolitan.

3.2.2 Artistic achievements

 Art achievements were so outstanding that Venice was regarded as centre
of arts in Europe.
 Many artists produced great pieces of work that adorned the public
buildings around the city.
 Venice was famous for mosaic act.
3.2.3 Scientific & Literary developments
 Venetians were exposed to ideas from other parts of world.
 Interest in physics, medicine, law and psychology.
 Universities attracted interested nobles to enrol in popular courses such
as law and medicine.
 Venetian government provided funds to attract distinguished professors,
so as to make Venetian universities more reputable and attract more
foreign students.
 New areas of study such as astrology.
 No elementary and secondary education, young Venetian nobles learnt
through apprenticeship, private tutoring or accompanying elder members
of family on business trips.

3.3 Economic prosperity

 Venice’s trade expansion encouraged industrial development.
 Craftsmen in chemical industries were talented and well-paid.
 Guilds (Unions) were created to ensure job security and quality of goods
remained high.
 Example is guilds coming up with rules and standards for tailoring.
 Tailors not abiding to rules or produced poor quality goods were fined.
 Venetian goods renowned for quality.
 Resulted in high demand and increased trade.
 More trade generated, Venetians enjoyed higher incomes.

[ Europe between 15th to 18th centuries ]

 Venice entered 15th century, faced with many challenges.
 Challenges were from developments of both Europe and within Venice.
 Western Europe faced with several economic, social, political forces which
affected continent.
 As trade competition intensified, many states wanted a greater share of
resources such as trade and territories.
 Engaged in conflicts to achieve objectives.
 Led to political instability in much of Europe.
 Black Dear reduced population, affecting food production and economy.

4. *Fall of Venice

4.1 Foreign threats

 Political developments in mainland states and emergence of Ottoman
Empire in 15th Century posed serious challenges to Venice.
 Venice had spent large amount of resources and wealth in building military
strength.
 Threats diverted Venice’s attention away from trade and resulted in loss of
some of Venice’s overseas territories.
 Added to further blows as maritime empire.
4.1.1 Involvement in mainland
 Political development in mainland cause Venetian government turn its
attention to mainland territories.
 Mainland territories supplied Venice with essential resources like food and
water.
 Venice needed to secure their supply of resources.
 In order for Venice to protect their territories, they took advantage of the
rivalry among mainland states.
 Venice tried to achieve balance of power by offering to help one fight
against another.
 However, Venice’s act of switching alliances with different opposing states
proved it was constantly treading on fragile relations with larger states.
 Venice could come under attack should negotiations fail.
 Situation put Venetians at high risk as no certainty which alliance would
ultimately benefit Venice.
 Venetians equip themselves with strong army which could only be done so
by recruiting mercenaries (soldiers employed and paid) to fight wars.
 Rivalry among mainland states made overland trade route unsafe as
constant battles were fought in the region.
 Venetians concerned as they depended on commercial crossroads for
trade and wealth.

4.1.2 The Ottoman Empire

 From 13th Century, Ottoman Empire began expanding its influence from
Middle East into Europe.
 By 15th Century, Ottoman replaced Genoa as Venice’s greatest
competitor.
 Venetian knew they could not compete with Ottoman armies as they were
larger.
 Venice’s involvement in mainland drained large part of its energy and
resources.
 Venice thereby forced to give up some of less important territories to avoid
further loss.
 Venetians fought hard to maintain control of Adriatic Sea.
 However, Ottoman acquired territories along coast of Adriatic Sea and
launched attacks at Venice’s territories from there.
 Venice used galleys to fight off attacks, thus disrupting use of galleys for
trading purposes.
 Ottoman fought 7-year war with Venetians over control of Aegean Sea
and Adriatic Sea.
 The wars drained Venice’s resources and man power and disrupted trade.
 Venice attempted to contain power of Ottomans.
  Venetians willing to give concessions to Ottomans whenever it suited
commercial interests but would later seek military aid from European
states to fight to defend their territories.
 The action caused European neighbours to develop deep hostility for
Venice.
 In 1463, Europeans decided to launch military campaign against
Ottomans.
 However, due to resentment faced from European states, Venetians were
left to fight on their own against Ottomans.
 In 1470, Venice lost Negroponte.

4.1.3 League of Cambrai

 Venice’s growing influence made it unpopular among various mainland
states.
 Larger states felt Venice was gaining too much power and control over
Northern Italy and wanted to recapture Venetian territories.
 In 1508, military alliance against Venice known as League of Cambrai was
formed.
 Consist of main powers.
 League aimed to reduce power of Venice and divide power of Venice
amongst the larger states.
 Many of Venice’s territories fell to members of the League.
 At Agnadello, Venetian mercenary army badly defeated.
 Venetians negotiated for separate peace with some states of the League
by giving territories and wealth.
 Due to changing alliances, Venice created new alliances with some states
and managed to recapture some of its territories.
 Cost of wars drained and weakened Venice’s resources. Venice had to
raise taxes to finance employment of mercenary armies and replenish own
supply of weapons.

4.2 Maritime Competition

 Venice continued to function as a regional trading centre, specialising in
goods produced in Mediterranean.
 Venice was also diversifying its economy into agriculture, manufacturing
industries and financial services.
 However, over time, rise of new powers posed severe competition to
Venice’s position as maritime power.

4.2.1 Discovery of new sea routes

 15th Century was beginning of age of exploration and discovery.
 Marco Polo’s tales encouraged many European explorers to follow his
footsteps.
 An example is explorer Christopher Columbus, who discovered Americas.
 Competition to search for new maritime trade routes.
  Portuguese explorer, Vasco, successfully reached Calicut, a thriving spice
centre in India, by going round Cape of Good Hope.
 Portuguese able to buy spices directly from India and led to competition
with Venetians.
 New sea route destroyed Venice’s monopoly of lucrative spice trade and
reduce large profits Venetian traders had earned.
 Venice’s traditional route was more time-consuming, due to overland
route.
 Overland route considered unsafe as there were robbers and plunderers
hiding in desert.
 Venice lost its position as middleman for spice trade.
 Venice continued to function as trade centre in western Mediterranean
Sea as growing cities such as Lisbon in Portugal demanded more goods.
 Venice became main supplier of Mediterranean goods such as wine,
raisin, Persian silk. Sold them to the cities.
 Venetian-manufactured products such as glassware were highly profitable
and in high demand for both East and West.
 Venice expanded its trade to North Sea region and maintained trade links
with England.

4.2.2 New trade rivals

 17th century, new trade rivals such as Dutch East India Company was
formed.
 The Dutch bypassed Venetians to go to East to get the supplies.
 Venice also faced competition from British when English East India
Company (EIC) was established.
 EIC brought cotton and pepper from India, tea and porcelain from China.
 Venice was adversely affected as position as an entrepot port.
 Dutch and British had better-designed ships.
 Venetians imitated designs of ships, however sailors lacked skills to
operate them.
 Large states (e.g. England), more successful in negotiating favourable
trading rights in new ports.
 Venetians imposed protectionist policy.
 Imposed higher duties on foreign traders.
 Traders felt too costly to trade with Venetians.
 Venice lost some of its trading partners due to its insistence on
maintaining monopolistic position.

4.3 Political challenges

4.3.1 Incapable Leadership

 Basic structure of Venetian government remained unchanged since 12 th
century.
  Venetians’ ability to make good decisions dependent on quality of men
selected into office.
 Venice faced challenge of shrinking number of nobility as other families
die, such as during Black Death.
 This affected their appointment to highest offices.
 To retain family wealth and property, noble families arranged marriages
among themselves.
 This caused wealth to be concentrated in hands of few families.
 From 16th Century, a small group of rich nobles dominated the
government, making renewal of leadership a challenge.
 With power in hands of few, corruption was inevitable.
 Rotation of duties ensured no family could dominate government.
 Also meant competent officers would have to leave office after 1 term.
 Later times, nobles regarded office as matter of personal glory, rather than
service to the state.
 Many nobles, previously scholars, competed to serve as naval
commanders in wars against Ottomans.
 They did not have adequate naval expertise.
 Led to Venice suffering heavy losses in battles.

4.3.2 Corruption in government

 In order to finance cost of wars with ottomans and neighbouring states,
government suspended salaries of civil servants.
 Together with disruption of trade in time of wars, some nobilities lost their
source of income.
 Division in noble classes (rich nobles and poor nobles).
 Many poor nobles were willing to sell their votes at high price.
 Leadership was now determined by how much nobles could afford to pay
to be elected.
 Another form of corruption was sale of positions to raise funds during
crises.
 Corrupt practices resulted in incompetent leaders taking positions in
government.
 Government was becoming increasingly inefficient as it served the
nobility’s interest.

4.3.3 Over-dependence on mercenaries

 Venetian army employed soldiers from its Mediterranean territories.
 Small population, necessary for Venice to maintain large mercenary army.
 Venetian’s over-dependence on mercenaries was very costly.
 Some of the paid soldiers did not remain loyal to Venice as they could
always be offered higher salaries from other states.
 1619, a large number of French mercenaries plotted to seize Duccal
Palace and kill Senate molecules.
 Planned to rob nobles’ palaces.
  Although plan discovered by Council of Ten, it showed Venice could no
longer trust mercenary.

4.4 Social Challenges

 Venetians less prepared for war as they shifted their focus away from
security matters,
 More concerned about wealth than maintaining security in city state.
 Nobles become more affluent, less involved in important matters such as
admin and development.
 More distant from commoners and gap between rich and poor widened.
 Lifestyle changed as they become richer.
 Pursuit of entertainment and pleasure helped in flourishing arts in Venice.
 Many wealthy nobles indulged in lavish parties and celebrations which
could last as long as 6 months.
 Venetians were overly-complacent.
 Some rich nobles addicted to gambling.

4.5 Fall of Venice

 Venice decline in later half of 15th century when failed to respond
effectively to internal and external changes.
 In 18th century, France’s growing power threatened many European
states.
 Upon leadership of Napoleon, French swept across Western Europe and
moved into Italian peninsula.
 Small number of Venetian nobles supported idea of fighting for their
survival.
 No capable nobles to organise and lead an army to defeat Napoleon’s
soldier.
 When Venice approached by Italian states to join alliance against France,
it rejected for fear of provoking the French.
 Small amount Venetians plotted to overthrow Venetian ruling government.
 They were supported by French agents and their supports allowed
Napoleon to advance in Venice.
 The Venetian commanders who attempted to defend Venice discovered
they did not have the means to defend themselves.
 Made worse by nobles’ absence of fighting spirit.
 On 12 May 1797, when Napoleon demanded for Venice’s surrender, Doge
Ludovico Manin surrendered Venice to Napoleon without a single shot
fired.
 Venice’s sovereignty ended. No longer an independent city-state.
 A once-enviable maritime empire, Venice’s decline was now complete.
5. How can states sustain themselves in ever-changing world?
[Case Study]

5.1 Nation-building
 Early settlers displayed determination in harsh conditions by maintaining
social cohesion.
 Developed organisations such as guilds.
 Foreign talent and labourers who settled down, were integrated into
Venetian society through guild memberships.

- However, Venetians were vulnerable to threats as society became wealthy

and complacent.

5.2 Governance
 During Venice’s rise to power, Venetians made constant improvements to
system of governance.
 Able to respond to threats by ensuring strong political leadership.
 With growing population and prosperity, structure of government also
reformed to respond to great demands.

- However, corrupt practices later weakened the government and made

Venetians ineffective at adapting to challenges.

5.3 Relations with other states

 Early years, Venice used tactful diplomacy with military capability to obtain
favourable trading terms.
 Venice contained threat of pirates and ensured maritime security in
Adriatic Sea.

- Venice participated in power struggles of mainland states.

- Many regarded Venice as a common enemy.
- Venice unwilling to forge positive relations with rising nations such as
Portugal, instead view them as competitor.

5.4 Sustaining economic development

 Took advantage of opportunities in Maritime technology.
 Trade efficiency increased and Venice’s economy expanded.

- Venice could not compete with European nations on discovery of new sea
routes
- Tried to replicate Dutch & English ships but failed to operate.
- Introduction of trade laws unsuccessful, leading to decline as trade centre.