Reaction Paper 3

During the 16^th century the Mediterranean was at the center of migration, trade and emerging businesses.  Because it was a convenient port city along the Mediterranean, Venice became known as a self-contained system of budding capitalists.

This week it was interesting to discover some of the lesser-known details that impacted Venice’s position as a global power. For example in Fernand Braudel’s “The Mediterranean” we learned that without markets and roads there would be no towns, some of which would ultimately transform into major cities. The creation of these systems of transportation was essential to moving both people and food. Similarly, bazaars became important places to sell goods, network with locals, and assimilate into the culture. This is still clearly evident in contemporary Italy where almost on a daily basis I am greeted by a small market outside of the Accent center before heading to class.

Contrary to what one might believe, it is interesting to note that large towns, which stood at crossroads, did not necessarily see growth. The crossroad simply created a change in route of transportation (228). Ultimately, large roads and the exchanges they permitted led to the gradual division of labor where cities distinguished themselves from the countryside. “The starting point of this process was commercial activity- in places like Venice, Seville, Genoa, Milan, and Marseilles in the 16^th century (229). When the division between country and city life was beginning, Venice established itself as an industrial port, regarded for banking while Genoa was regarded as the most sophisticated credit machinery of the middle Ages. By 1607 all “capitalist” activity was in the hands of Florentines who owned houses in the city and the Genoese who provided silver (Braudel 232) - between them, they controlled all exchanges.

Also important to note is that “in the 16^th century, political change destroyed the old independence of the city-state, undermined foundations of its traditional economy and created imposing new structures” (233). The increase in the number of people living in the area created a serious famine. The spread of the Plague and a lack of wheat (a staple of the Italian diet) didn’t help the situation either. Urban famine was much more common in cities than for those in the country who had greater access to food from their farms. Again, with the rise of cities, the number of immigrants increased greatly. Although these people were often subjected to much criticism, they brought with them new skills in various fields, including in the kitchen.

Regarding Turkey, the year 1453 saw the fall of Constantinople and not surprisingly lots of economic difficulties ensued. While large banking systems remained driving forces of city expansion, people were forced to adapt to less comfortable lifestyles. During this time in the 16^th century, Venetian interactions with Turks would develop thanks largely to trade. A key item in these exchanges was coffee, which we learned a lot about during our time in Istanbul. According to Carboni’s “Venice and the Islamic World” “Turks and Venetians both shared a reputation for tolerance and a fairly liberal welcome for persecuted religious minorities, such as Protestants and Jews driven out of Spain, who brought their capital and skills to the Ottoman Empire” (50). Therefore it is easier to understand why Venetian merchants were well received in Constantinople and Smyrna and the empire continued to supply the Republic with raw silk, cotton, coral and especially grains. Turkey steadily integrated into Europe’s trade network into the Enlightenment era.