Othello

Introduction

• Venice was a one of a kind city
• It was built entirely on piles sunk into marshy islands at the head of the Adriatic Sea
• The city has hundreds of canals, which function as roads and highways
• Venice is one of the foremost cities of the Italian Renaissance
• The city had a population of more than 150,000 people

History/Significance of the Navy

• Venice gained control of the Adriatic Sea - established out posts, and became a staging area of the Crusades
• In 1275 the Venetian, Marco Polo reached Beijing-opening a trade route between Europe and the far east.
• Venice was successful city because the leaders created a powerful Navy
• The navy was able to gain control of the trade routes of the Mediterranean Sea
• The Venetians maintained hundreds of merchant ships, warships and thousands of sailors.
• The cities navy made it impossible to attack Venice

Politics/Artists

• Venetians referred to their city as a republic, which is a form of democracy
• The Venetians however had little political freedom
• The supreme ruler doge, was elected for life
• The city also had a senate and a great council that passed laws
• the doge and the members of the council all came from wealthy families
• All the citizens were at the mercy of the government
• Venice like Florence, had many artists who were patronized by wealthy merchants
• Architects built beautiful palaces and official buildings throughout the city
• Titan was the most famous Venetian artist
• Thanks to Titan, Venice remains one of the most beautiful cities in the world.