Homework Response Week 3

Sindy Mercado

October 27, 2015

Professor Cristina Villa

Homework Response #3

            The early Mediterranean epitomizes a region of intense migration, the shifting and fluidity of identities and most importantly exemplifies the significant interaction and influence between Italian cities (Genoa and Venice) to the Ottoman Empire. Metaphorically and figuratively, the Mediterranean symbolized a highway of routes, movements of goods and people, and the exchange of economic and cultural ideas and beliefs through a period of time in which cities were dominating the economic interconnection of empires. The Mediterranean as Clifford Wright would argue, symbolized the beginning of a powerful empire that was dominated by La Serenissima (Venice), La Supernova (Genoa), and the sublime Porte (Istanbul) and became “the greatest cities of the Mediterranean” during the fourteenth through the sixteenth century (1999: 252). Both cities, Genoa and Venice became significant because of their trade relations with the Ottoman Empires and regions beyond the empire.

            During this period, Genoa developed into one of the Maritime Republics along with the city of Venice, where trade, shipbuilding and banking supported one of the largest and most powerful navies in the Mediterranean. Genoa’s empire was based on her trading colonies that stretched beyond the Ottoman Empire, on to the Byzantine Empire and Sicily. Genoa’s trade provided profits such as wheat, silk and spice. Genoa, however, was most regarded for her its location as being the world center for the distribution of American silver (1999: 253). Genoa and Venice were both cities that were able to exploit the world through their commodities and city’s commercial connections.

            Venice became a wealthy and superior leading city-state thanks to the trade connections with the Ottoman Empire. Venetians exported commodities like wine and other luxurious items such as soap, gems, aromatic gum used for chewing, wine—as a symbol of wealth—and clothes. Venice symbolized the city of fashion and lavish lifestyle as Venetians began purchasing land to build villas for the noble men and later became the symbol of trading power. Venice symbolized a joyful region Serene Republic that portrayed Venetians as people who were liberal, enjoyed every moment of their life, listened and interacted in conversations and established a sense of fashion in the 16^th century. These characteristics set this city-state apart from others who considered it a strange place. Its sense of fashion, common interactions and feasts were portrayed in paintings. Venice’s abundance of luxury during this century forced the establishment of laws that limited their excess of wealth in efforts to create a balance between the rich and the poor. Although Venice reached a heightened point of importance in the trading connections with other regions, it soon faced a series of problems that eventually contributed to her decline.

            About three weeks ago, I had the pleasure and opportunity to visit Venice, a city full of rich history and influence in the Mediterranean region. Although I would have wished to learn of its importance sooner than my visit, I am able to make better connections of their art and architecture to their historical and influential past. In an attempt to follow directions and navigate myself to my hotel using the map, I lost my sense of direction and wound up in what was labeled as the “Jewish community” which I found strange at the time. Now having learned about the Jewish significance to Venice’s history, it’s interesting to see the way that the Jewish community was barricaded, separated and clearly identified from the rest of the Venetians. On another note, it was definitely interesting to see how liberal and different Venice was in comparison to the other cities at the time. Nowadays, it is one of the most visited cities but in a recent article published in the web, it explains and shows (with images) the detrimental effects Venice is facing as a result of their underwater building conditions caused by rainy weather. The constant flooding of the canals and the high tides have weakened the foundations of these buildings whose repair is costly for the majority of residents living there. A solution for these locals is to move out of Venice and search for a city where they feel safe.  Over the past years, the population has decreased significantly and although tourism is effective and important for the maintenance of the city, the locals are moving out. This is extremely sad after having learned about the rich, happy and vibrant culture that once surrounded the famous city of Venice.

The question that the article points to is whether there will be a Venice in 50 years?