Subscribe to my education channel. bit.ly/gohbangrui These slides introduce Chapter 3: Rise of Venice to the Secondary 4 students who are studying Social Studies for the Singapore current syllabus. These slides are divided into 3 areas. 1. Background [Slide 3] 2. Factors leading to the Rise of Venice between 9th and 15th centuries [Slide 16] 3. Venice at its Peak of Development [Slide 58] Any feedback is welcome.

1. Venice
5th – 15th Centuries

2. Learning Outcomes
Explain the factors
that led to the rise
of Venice.
Explain the
lessons that
nations can draw
from the rise of
Venice.

3. Part 1
Background

5. Italy
2014

6. Where is Venice?

9. Venice
What was
like in the
5th-9th centuries?

10. Venetian
Society
The early settlements
consisted of small fishing
villages.
Craftsmen, fishermen,
and salt traders

11. Venice had an urban plan
with an organised
infrastructure
• Little land for farming;
• Dependent on mainland

12. Economic Activities
Capitalised on
their skills in salt
production and
monopolized
salt trade
Traded salt and
fishes for grain
Established trade
agreements with
communities
along Po River to
gain access to
mainland and
forest products
Obtained wood
for shipbuilding
and trade with
Middle East (for
gold, spices etc.)

13. Government
System
A vassal state of
Byzantine Empire

14. Doge
Ducal Council
General Assembly
3-tiered Government System

15. Could elect
own leader
(Doge)
Most
experienced
official from
ruling family
Appointed
for life

16. Part 2
Factors leading to the Rise of Venice
between 9th and 15th Centuries

17. Rise
of
Venice
Leadership Reforms in
Government
Trade
Developments
& Expansion
Industrial
Development

18. Leadership
Doge Peietro II Orseolo
• established control in
Adriatic Sea
Doge Enrico Dandolo
• directed the Fourth Crusade
• captured Constantinople
• weakened the Byzantine
Empire
Doge Pietro Ziani
• set up military outposts
along important trade routes
to safeguard Venice’s
territorial control.

19. This marked the beginning of Venice’s growth as
a maritime empire over the Mediterranean Sea.

20. How is this a reason
for Venice’s rise?
Strong leadership in different aspects of the
country’s development was needed.
Sound strategic decisions were made that
enhanced the country’s political and economic
strengths.
By seizing control and managing the territories
well, these capable leaders contributed in no small
way to the rise of importance of Venice.

21. Leadership –
Military
Campaigns

22. Genoa
Capture of Constantinople
in 12th Century
What are the implications
for Venice?
• Rival
• Territories
Constantinople
Defeat of Genoa in 14th
Century
What are the implications
for Venice
• Monopoly of trade in
Mediterranean

23. Reforms
Meeting New Challenges

24. Challenge
Venice’s trade was
growing and the city-
state was growing in
influence, hence a
capable and efficient
government was
needed.
Solution
Creation of Great
Council in 12th
Century.
How does this solve the problem?

25. Challenge
With growth of trade
and wealth, there were
more noble &
influential families.
Solution
Expansion of Great
Council in 13th Century.
How does this solve the problem?

26. Creation
of the
Involve more nobles
to serve and decide on
Venice’s future
Allow for
specialization of
duties in law, finance,
coinage, foreign
relations, commerce
and fleets
Great Council Senate

27. Council
of

28. Maintain
Checks and Balance
Monitor the activities of organisations to safeguard against
corruption
Crush plots against the government
Limit the power of the Doge
Prevent concentration of power
Ensure best candidates for the election process

29. Doge
Marin Falier
Tried to overthrow
government in 1355.
Sought to gain supreme
power of dogeship.
Plans were discovered by
Council of Ten and quickly
captured.

30. Challenge
Venice’s trade was
growing and the city-
state was growing in
influence, hence the
government needs to
perform a wide range
of duties.
Solution
Reorganisation of
Great Council
How does this solve the problem?

31. Council of
40created to handle matters of
Law Finances
Coinage

32. Senate
created to take charge of
Foreign Affairs Commerce
Operation of
Venetian Fleets

33. Reforms
Maintain Checks & Balances
Why was there a need to check the power of the
Doge?
What was done to check the power of the Doge?
Why was there a need to prevent the
concentration of power in any individual or
family?
What was done to prevent the concentration of power
in any individual or family?

34. How is this a reason
for Venice’s rise?
Venice made constant improvements to their
system of government.
The Venice were able to respond to threats and
challenges by ensuring strong political
leadership.
With a growing population and prosperity, the
structure of the government was also reformed to
respond to greater demands.

35. Trade Development
Innovation&Enterprise
Skilled Diplomats
• obtain favourable trading
terms (lower taxes, brought in
highly prized spices from the East)
Explorers
• explored new trade routes,
supplies and markets, beyond
Middle East to China e.g. Marco
Polo
Foreign Traders
• established permanent trading
posts in the city state – Arabs,
Armenians, Greeks and Africans

36. MARCO
POLO

37. How is this a reason
for Venice’s rise?
By having an adventurous spirit,
Venetian merchants and explorers were
able to expand their trade which led to
rapid economic growth.
The increase in variety of
valuable products traded created
a lot of wealth for the country.

38. Innovation in
Maritime technology
Nautical Chart
• provided information about
known voyages (landmarks,
distance, ports) for more accurate
planning
Mariner Compass
• Improved visibility in winter for
trade in the Mediterranean
throughout the year

39. Advanced
Shipbuilding
Technology
Venetian fleets
propelled by both oars and sails
and need not depend solely
on the wind, allowing swift
travel over long distance.
Great Galley
built in the 13th Century was a
combination of a merchant and
a war vessel to deter pirates.

40. GREATER
This leads to
Trade expansion & Territorial control

41. How is this a reason
for Venice’s rise?
Venice took advantage of the
opportunities in maritime
technology during the 13th Century
The increase in variety of
valuable products traded create
a lot of wealth for the country.

42. Challenge
Venice’s trade was
growing and the city-
state was growing in
influence, hence the
government needs to
perform a wide range
of duties.
Solution
Reorganisation of
Great Council
How does this solve the problem?

43. Trade Development
Efficiency in Managing Voyages
More frequent
More goods
Set up a management system to
organise and monitor schedule of
trade voyages.
Grouped traders and ordered them
to travel in convoys as it was more
profitable to trade in larger
quantities and greater trade
volume.
How did these developments lead to the rise of Venice?
Technology Senate

44. Reasons
Safety
• Protect one
another during
pirate attacks
Increased
Profits
• Price-fixing of
goods and no
bargaining
No Time
Loss
• Coordinate
arrival timing
with other
traders for
efficiency
Reliability
• Consistency in
arrival timing
and the variety
of goods

45. Trade Development
Edging out Other Competitors
Military Campaigns
against Genoa – a trade
competitor.
Genoa was defeated in
late 14th Century, and
this led to more trade

46. Provision of wide variety of goods from the East
e.g.
Why was Venice able to do that?
Spices Sugar Diamonds

48. Trade
Monopoly
Venice’s strategic
location at the northern tip
of Adriatic Sea, Central and
Southern Europe
Use of a combination of
land and sea routes to
Arabia
Able to provide greater
variety of goods than
Genoa or the Hanseatic
League (trading states of
Northern Europe)

49. How is this a reason
for Venice’s rise?
With superior ships that were able to travel
further and strong enough to repel pirate attacks
enabled Venice to obtain exotic products from
the Middle East and China for which there was a
huge demand
Monopolising the trade routes in Europe
enabled Venice to raise the prices
• Made large profits as European states had to buy
from Venice and not from other states

50. With all-year round travel, expansion of trade and
territorial control led to
More Ships calling
at Venice
Increased Trade A Higher Level of
Economic
Prosperity.

51. Industrial Development
Industries
All shipbuilders
centralised at the
Arsenal around 1100,
producing great galleys.
• Why was the Arsenal
the backbone of
Venice’s power?
Shipbuilding Glassmaking
Exquisite glassware
demanded all over Europe.
Skilled craftsmen from
other parts of Europe
attracted to settle down
and work in Venice.

52. Shipbuilding Glassmaking

53. Print
New industries such as printing emerged

54. How is this a reason
for Venice’s rise?
Venice’s trade expansion encouraged its industrial development.
Craftsmen were well-paid and this attracted other craftsmen
from Europe and surrounding region to settle in the city-state
Arsenal, the shipbuilding centre became the backbone of
Venice’s maritime industry and power
The success of the industries and particularly its maritime trade
brought Venice wealth and recognition.

55. Industrial Developments
Innovative Practices
Standardised columns of
credit and debit columns and
entries
Useful system to record
transactions.
Double-entry, rather than single
entry, helps to prevent errors.
• How did this facilitate trade?
Double-entry
booking

56. Industrial Developments
Innovative Practices
Giro-banking
Traders can make or receive
payment by making the request
at the bank.
No need to carry large amounts of
cash and different currencies.
Allow for loans and several
transactions to be made in a day
• How did this facilitate trade?

57. How is this a reason
for Venice’s rise?
The Venetians were highly
innovative as seen in the new
ways of conducting business.
Trade efficiency
increased and Venice’s
economy expanded.

58. Part 3
Venice at its Peak of
Development

59. Political Stability
Strong & stable government-controlled territories
along important trade routes, especially around the
Mediterranean Sea
• Why was this important?
Adriatic Sea
• Strong navy was able to
suppress piracy
• How did this influence other
developments of Venice?

60. Economic Prosperity
Trade
• Monopolised trade in the
region.
Manufacturing
• Venetian goods renowned for
their quality.
• Talented craftsmen were well-
paid
• Trade unions and guilds were
formed to ensure job security
and quality of goods produced.
What are the implications of economic prosperity?

61. Social Transformation
Cosmopolitan City-state
Attracted foreign talents
• promoted migration
(owing to labour shortage)
Renowned as Centre of
the Arts in Europe
• Government funds were
provided to support the
development of
Universities for
scientific and literary
fields

62. Scientific & Literary
Developments
Venetian universities
attracted many foreign
nobles as the government
provided funds to attract
distinguished
professors.
Venetian professors
explored new areas of
knowledge like astrology
& astronomy.

63. Artistic Achievements
Famous for its
mosaic art
(broken pieces
of coloured tiles,
stones or glass
put together to
form pictures).
Attractive
destination
for those who
embarked on
Grand Tour.
Why was Venice able to
develop aesthetically?

64. Question of the Day
The enterprising spirit of the Venetians was the
most critical factor that enabled Venice to
emerge as a great city-state.
How far do you agree with this statement?
“
”

65. Summary Rise of
Venice
Leadership
Diplomacy
Military
Campaigns
Reforms in
Government
Meet Challenges of
Growing City-State
Maintain
Checks & Balances
Trade
Developments
& Expansion
Innovation &
Enterprise
Efficiency in
Managing Voyages
Edge Out
Other Competitors
Industrial
Development
Industries
Innovative
Practices

66. Created
by
Goh Bang Rui
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