The Republic of Venice - History and Government

In this lecture we explore the history of Venice and the evolution of its elaborate republican system. How did a lagoon village become the commercial centre that helped revive Europe and build the modern world? How influential this idiosyncratic form of government continues to be and what are its pros and cons?

[safeysmith]

I have never been to Venice, but my dad who is from Nottingham, England has. He said it brought a tear to his eye as he stepped upon St Mark’s Square in Venice.

[juliogadelhaparente]

Ive been watching every lecture by John ... I mean every one. Thank you centre place. Abraços do Rio de Janeiro

[glenn-younger]

Great talk, thank you! You've got to love the comment from the woman at the end who said, "They kind of screwed themselves over, " as if it was a special observation. Look at every rise and fall of all civilizations throughout history. Just about every fallen dynasty, country, or city state in some way, shape or form, kind of screwed themselves over through people's power games of status and wealth and fighting. Welcome to the human condition. Do you think we'll every learn? Here's hoping...

[thomasjamison]

One of my favorite Venetian stories comes from the time the Lombard laid siege to the city, or rather the islands. Eventually the Lombards starting running out of food.l The Venetians took to using shipboard catapults to toss bread into the Lombard ranks to let the Lombard soldiers know that they weren't able to starve Venice. There is so much of Athenian heritage and history that is applicable to Venice, including even the importation of the bones of a patron saint (or heroic figure, as in the case of Athens)

[kimberlyperrotis]

Please ask the students/participants to save their stories for the end. Quick questions are fine, but their long interruptions to tell anecdotes, personal views, etc., disrupt the lecture. Maybe there should be a discussion session afterward for those who want to listen to these, we online, don’t. PS: it’s not the “Mayans”, it’s the “Maya”.

[giancarlomesaglio]

Excellent! A deep knowledge about history, and a simple way to explain it.

[SaulKopfenjager]

At the end the lady in audience brought up that initially Venice started to trade exporting salt to Constantinople for goods to trade with Europe, which they supplanted with their own copies as best they could make, but one other important commodity they would have a monopoly on was Glass, probably stained class types too, IIRC.

[foreignaustrian]

thank you from Vienna for this lecture! (was in Venice a week ago)

[laurenceharper]

I spent so many hours exploring Venice in Assassin's creed 2. Its such an amazing and pretty city.

[jimranallo]

A study of the venitian empire is an absolute must...to have a grasp on todays geopolitical scene...the same decendants of these families still have much of the world confused and basically slaves to the centuries old agenda...cheers!

[scarecrow]

John Hammer cracking up was hilarious.

[danielefabbro]

Venezia was called also as "the Door of Europe". Mostly because all trades and people that wanted to "legally" and "illegally" enter in Europe passed through Venezia.
Of course it lasted short since other Italian city-states adopted similar politics and then later it was also the turn of the Hanza in the North Europe and then again the various European kingdom opened too to trade and exchanges...
But the first during Middle Ages... that was Venezia.

[alangriffin]

I'm watching in installments, but man oh man is this good! I love the bit about stealing St. Mark.

[SpaceCafeCanada]

So I just "needed" to know about the origin of Venice & lo' & behold you guys came up & I'm already Subbed, well done!!! & thank you...

[fastforwardjetzt]

Excellent presentation and research. Love your videos 👍

[deanvrabl]

Would someone, please, write name of this historian... I bumped here totally by chance. And I'd like to Google him. Thanks

[savvageorge]

The story with the baletino boy was funny. What a crazy way to elect the doge. Hereditary monarchy is a lot simpler.

[kimberlyperrotis]

Who is the lecturer, John who? Why isn’t this in the description box?

[danishcupcake]

Excellent lecuture, thankyouverymuch' :- )

[matthewsutton]

Fast forward to about 55min to the best part