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Venice (Rise of Venice (Political Factors (Reforms in the Government…

- - - - Doge Pietro II Orseolo (Diplomacy)
        
        Maintained friendship with the Byzantine Empire in the East and Germanic Kings in the west
        
        Protected Venice's Independence obtained favorable trading terms
        
        Created links with the Muslim states in North Africa
        
        He also protected Venetian traders by disallowing trade between them and cities controlled by pirates
        
        Doge Enrico Dandolo (Conquest)
        
        Successfully captured Constantinople in 1204
        
        This has earned Venice the best trading terms
        
        This also gained Venice control of territories which were important for trade
        
        Doge Pietro Ziani (Continued the conquest)
        
        Expanded trade through conquest
        
        Eventually gained control of important trade routes in the Mediterranean
        
        These leaders helped make good and timely decisions for Venice to ensure that she continued to maintain trade supremacy over the region
    - - Meeting the challenges of growing city-state
        
        Creation of the Great Council
        
        Helped to elect capable for all councils in the government
        
        They also settle dispute between members of different councils, passed laws, meted out punishment and granted pardons to deserving criminals
        
        The council was then expanded to give more nobles the opportunity to decide on Venice's future
        
        Specialisation of duties
        
        More committees were set up to handle affairs of state
        
        Council of Forty
        
        Matters of Law, Finance and Coinage
        
        60-Member Senate
        
        Foreign affairs and Trade matters
        
        The specialisation of duties prevented duplication of jobs which led to greater efficiency as manpower was not wasted. It allowed the specific committees to give full focus on further improving the area under their charge that led to the betterment of the state
      - Maintaining Checks and Balances
        
        Preventing the concentration of power
        
        Suitable male candidates were nominated for all elected positions through balloting, preventing any individuals or families. from dominating the government
        
        Nobles were not allowed to campaign for support and rivalry was discouraged.
        
        Therefore, no one was elected as a result of personal favor and no one was allowed to reject the position once appointed.
        
        The electoral system ensured fairness. It also prevented unhappiness as no one could say that the choosing of leaders was biased. There was therefore, a sense of political stability
        Effective checks on Power
        
        The Council of Ten was formed, comprising of the Doge, 6 Ducal Councillors and 3 Heads of the Council of Forty
        
        The council ensured that there are no corruption or abuse of power, any who are found guilty will be sent into exile.
        This put an end to uprising and treason.
        
        Maintaining of checks and balances prevented the monopolisation of power. This ensured that the leaders ruled in interest of Venice and not based on their self-interest. Right policies were therefore carried out, resulting in the growth and progress of Venice
  - - - Efficiency in Managing voyages
        The senate gave orders to traders to help improve the voyage scene
        
        Drew up an effective system to manage the schedule of trade voyages
        
        This helped the traders to be aware of their departure and arrival times so that they lose no time in trading and trade will not be disrupted
        
        Ordered the Venetian traders to travel in convoys as it gave greater protection to their vessels against pirates
        
        This meant less chance of losing their goods and incurring a lost, which might lead to a decline in revenue
        
        Grouped traders as it was more profitable to trade in larger quantities. It also offered foreign traders a larger variety of goods
        
        Foreign traders were therefore attracted to the variety of choices and were more willing to trade with the Venetians, This helped increase trade which led to greater profit
      - Overcoming trade Competition
        
        Genoa
        
        Venice defeated its main trade competitor, Genoa, in the late 14th Century after a series of wars over conflicts of political and commercial interest.
        
        With the removal of Genoa as the main economic threat, Venice could now trade in the area unhampered. They also gained control of the Mediterranean Sea which brought about more international trade causing Venice's trade to prosper even more
      - Advancements in Technology:
        Made travelling possible all year round
        
        Mariner's Compass: Ensures that ships remained on course
        Nautical Chart: Helped traders to plan their journeys more accurately
        
        Trade was facilitated as traders were assured of getting to their destination safely and prevented trade from being disrupted
        
        Superior Vessels or Galleys
        
        Rowed by oarsmen, these vessels were able to sail swiftly over long distances.
        
        This increased trading opportunities that led to the expansion of trade and territorial control
        
        Galleys were large in size which made them formidable and discouraged pirates from attacking the Venetian trading ships.
        
        This ensures that trade was not hampered and continued to flourish
      - Trade Monopoly
        
        After Genoa's defeat, Venice gained monopoly in the Mediterranean Sea. Its success was due to:
        Its strategic location at the northern tip of the Adriatic Sea
        
        Central and Southern Europe depended on Venice for goods from the east, like spices and sugar, which were sold at a very high price.
        
        Thus, Venetian traders reaped very high profits
        
        A great variety of goods came from the east
        
        European states had little choice other than to buy from Venice
        
        *Venice, therefore, took the opportunity to sell then at a high price and earned from it which help bring in more revenue for the city-state.
        
        Domination of the region by its navy
        
        The navy protected the Venetian trading ships fro rival ships and pirates and made Venice a safe and reliable trading center in Europe
        
        Thus, attracting more traders
      - Attitude towards trade
        
        Venetians were skilled diplomats
        
        Venetian traders were able to obtain good trading terms like lower tax rates.
        
        The traders also brought in highly sought after spices from the East
        
        The lower tax rates and spices attracted foreign traders to trade with the Venetian traders, thus giving them a competitive edge that helped strengthen the economy
        
        Venetians had an entreprising and adventurous spirit for trade
        
        Venetian traders were brave enough to explore new trade routes, supplies and materials and markets.
        
        The Venetian's exploration to China helped earned good relations between them. Thereby, expanding trade beyond the middle east.
        
        Thus, Venice was always able to stay ahead of the competition and become a popular trading partner for foreigners
    - - Trade related Industries
        
        Ship-building Industry
        
        This industry benefited from the expansion of trade
        
        Shipbuilders were concentrated in a new location, Arsenal, in 1100
        
        Arsenal handled all aspects of ship-design, building, outfitting and maintenance.
        
        Arsenal produced large amounts of galleys
        
        This industry, thus, helped facilitate trade as more ships were built and the ships were well maintained to concentrate on trade purposes, bringing in more revenue for Venice
        
        Manufacturing Industries
        
        Glass making
        
        Manufacturing of soaps and candles came about as the demand for goods rose
        
        The printing industry was set up to cater to the needs of a large reading population.
        
        These new industries provided more jobs for the Venetians, and also drew foreign talent such as skilled craftsmen from parts of Europe, to contribute to Venice. The various industries also meant diversifying of the economy so that the Venetian economy would be maintained should certain sectors of the economy be weakened
      - Innovative Practices
        
        Double-Entry Bookkeeping
        
        This enabled more accurate recording of business transaction
        
        Giro-Banking
        
        This meant that business men need not carry large amounts of money for their business
        
        They could request for the banks to transfer money from the buyer's account to the seller's account
        
        Trade was further facilitated with greater convenience by these practices. Venice's credit was seen as reliable and reputable, This boosted the confidence of foreign traders with the Venetian traders even more and the economy prospered further
- - - - Social Challenges
        
        Venetians were more interested in maintaining wealth and security.
        
        People became lazy , complacent and started taking the good life for granted.
        
        They became more distracted from their daily duties and were not efficient at work.
        
        The rich and poor alike indulged in the pursuit of leisure and gambling
        
        Venice seemed to lose its vitality and strength. This saw the further decline of Venice's productivity and economy
    - - Corruption in the Government
        
        To finance the war with Ottomans and neighboring states, the Venetian government suspended the salaries of Civil servanrs
        
        This led to citizens being poorer and were willing to sell their votes at a high price
        
        Leadership was now determined by how much the nobles could afford to pay to be elected.
        
        The Venetians also sold positions to raise funds during times of crisis
        
        How did Venice respond
        These corrupted practices meant incompetent leaders were filling in positions. Government became inefficient as it did not seem to serve in the interest of Venice. Hence, wrong decisions made would eventually harm the state
      - Over-dependence on Mercenaries
        
        Lack of Conscription
        
        Venice did not have conscription
        
        Venice had a small population as a result of deadly plagues
        
        Venice turned to hiring large mercenary armies to fight its many wars and protect its territories
        
        This proved costly to Venice and exhausted its state revenue significantly
        
        Loyalty of Mercenaries
        
        Mercenaries were not loyal as soon as they are offered higher salaries else where.
        
        This resulted in Venice being easily vulnerable to external attacks. For example, in 1619, French mercenaries plotted within Venice to seize the Ducal palace and kill the senate members
      - Incapable leaders
        
        Due to the black plague, Venice faced the threat of a shrinking population.
        
        A small group of rich nobles dominated the government
        
        With power in the hands of a few, corruption rose
        
        Nobles regarded officer as a matter of personal glory rather than service to Venice. Thus, the welfare of Venice was neglected
        
        Some nobles were not competent or rightly suited for the role in government. For example, Antonio Grimani, a financier who has been appointed as a noble during the war against the Ottomans. However, he had no experience for war.
        How did Venice respond
        
        Unfortunately, Venice failed to respond to this challenge
        
        Due to the lack of competency in the Venetian army and navy, Venice suffered heavy losses against the Ottomans. Therefore, wrong policies and decisions made by these incapable leaders proved detrimental for the progress of Venice
  - - - Bypassing Venice
        
        Dutch East India Company bypassed Venice to go to the east directly to get their supplies
        
        British East India Company brought cotton and pepper from India and Tea and Porcelain from China
        
        This affected Venice position as a Entrepôt port
        
        Others thus did not have to rely on Venice to get these goods which meant less trading opportunities for Venetian traders. This naturally saw their businesses suffer and a decline in the Economy
        How did Venice respond
        
        Venice imposed a protectionist policy by enforcing higher duties on foreign traders
        
        Unfortunately, the higher taxes made it costly for foreign traders to trade with the Venetians. Venice hence saw the loss of trading partners as many were outraged by Venice's protectionist policy and refused to trade further
      - Better ships
        
        The Dutch and British also had better designed ships, financial resources and were able to negotiate for favorable trading rights in new ports
        
        *They thus pose a grave competition to Venice who previously were beneficiaries of such trading privileges
        How did Venice respond
        
        Venice began imitating the designs of the ships
        
        However, they lacked the skills to operate these new ships
    - - How did Venice Respond
        
        Make use of Galleys
        
        Galleys, which were originally meant for trade purposes, were now used to fight
        
        Therefore, these Galleys can no longer be used for trading and resulted in a loss of revenue
        
        2 other wars with the Ottoman empire also drained Venice's resources
        
        Venice, thus, could not channel these resources elsewhere for its development
        
        Containment of Power
        
        Venice tried to contain the power of the Ottoman by balancing the power of the Ottoman and its European Neighbors
        
        This led to deep resentment and hostility from the Europeans
        
        Thus, Venice was left alone to fight the Ottoman
        
        No military support was render
        
        Thus, Venice was crippled in its defenses and further weaken from its many battles and defeats