At the time of Jesus, Venice was just getting going... people had started to settle the marshy... swampy... ground to avoid the harassment of the Franks and Huns (and other German tribes). Pretty well, right from the start, Venicians have been winners. Over the years, they have changed their tactics and found the competitive advantage that would bring them wealth.
Being an island state, surrounded by states with many more people, Venicians could not afford the luxury of fighting amongst themselves... they constructed a form of government that spread power amongst a large number of wealthy island families... with enough executive power to cope with crises that arose from time to time. Venician government was not as democratic as the Roman Republic model... but it lasted much longer... and it was more democratic than Rome's Monarchy model. Throughout their history, Venicians have kept out of trouble... avoided invasions... compromised with the strongest nations... just kept being good at politics.
After the Roman empire split into east and west.. Venicians threw their sea faring skills behind the Byzantine empire and virtually became its naval force. The Byzantine rulers were occupied with religion and keeping the early Ottoman armies in check... they didn't seem to mind the Venetians building a very wealthy shipping network. In fact, Venice established valuable trade links with the Turks while serving the Byzantine empire. Venice built its infrastructure during this period... without pillaging enormous wealth. Eventually, Byzantine and Ottoman empires fought themselves to a standstill... leaving a power vacuum that the Venicians were only too happy to fill.
Venice decided it would have its own empire! All throughout the Adriatic, Venicians sailed into each port and said, "Look here chaps... we realise you are tired of all this fighting between Byzantine and Ottomans... we want to build you a fort. Now, it's going to cost... Forts don't come cheap. You let us be the rulers and we'll look after you. Promise! OK?" They didn't face too much resistance. The empire they built lasted for over 600 years in many places.
The first fortune for the Venicians came from exercising power. They perfected the art of war conducted with boats propelled by teams of rowers. This proved profitable until those dastardly Portuguese invented ships that could tack into the wind. This allowed war ships propelled by sail to be much more manoeuvrable... and much bigger than boats propelled by rowers. The Venicians had to find a new gig.
Venicians changed tactics and figured out how to generate wealth from trading. China and India offered goods new to the markets of Europe... and Venice held a strategic spot on the trade routes between east and west. It fortified the Red Sea region and built closer relationships with the Islam world. Venicians supplied the transport and controlled strategic waters. Europe was crazy about silk and porcelain... couldn't get enough of them. Venicians accumulated another fortune... this time built on trade.
The bad news was that the Portuguese once more upset the apple cart... they rounded Cape Horn and established an alternative sea route to India and China. The trading advantages of the Venicians were again disappearing. They needed to find another competitive advantage.
It took Venice to figure out its next move. The strategy finally to emerge was to generate their new fortune based on charm. When the English made moves to establish the Grand Tour, Venice made sure it was the highlight! They had the illegitimate children (all of them) of the Dogue learn to play musical instruments. They had registration systems for ladies of the night to ensure the client received what was agreed. They opened up their wonderful churches to visitors... and filled them with marvelous works of art. The "Charm Offensive" has worked well for the next 150 years. It remains working to this very day.
The time may be fast approaching when Venicians will need another change of course. There are too many tourists. It is hard work charming the tourist of today. We see the Venicians showing signs of exasperation. The peak tourist areas of Venice have been sold to foreign interests (primarily Chinese). The true Venicians now live on the mainland... or on the peripheral areas of the island. Soon, the island will be run and owned by foreigners. Will they be able to maintain the supply of charm?
Interesting place!
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