Venice+During+the+Renaissance

=__Venice During the Renaissance__ By Maya Littlejohn = = = = = ==Venice was originally built from fear. The Venetians had to overcome the malaria-ridden swamps and built a city from nothing. But soon after it was rewarded as being the most dazzling and beautiful cities in the world.== = = Venice is made up of 120 tiny islands that were formed by 177 canals in the lagoon between the mouths of Po and Piave Rivers. Historians say that Venice was founded on March 25, 1421. But others believe that Venice was founded on April 25th, 421 on St. Mark’s Day, who is the patron saint of Venice. For almost 1,400 years the two or three miles of shallow water that separated Venice from mainland Italy, had protected Venice from invaders and also effectively isolated the Venetians from Italian political life. They were untouched by war, feuds and squabbles caused by territory, so they turned their attention towards the East, where all of the rich markets of Levantine and Constantinople were located. During the early renaissance Venice was a major European power. It was a republic whose empire was controlling land in what is now Italy, a lot of seacoasts down the Adriatic and an endless amount of islands. Venice’s relationship with the Byzantine Empire allowed its merchants special privileges at key ports. The city’s merchants came to dominate the trades with Asia from the 10th century on. The merchants transported their goods by shipping them along overland trade routes to Byzantine ports on the East shore of the Mediterranean. The mid-15th century population was 100,000. Even though everything appeared to be going well, Venice’s power began to decline in the 16th century. This was because of the rise of the Ottoman Turks. They had discovered new trade routes to Asia. T his slowed some of Venice's trade down, but the city was not worried about it's effects. T he merchants continued to supply the city with large quantities of goods from the Middle East and Asia. ==Venice was also the site for Arsenal. Arsenal was a gigantic shipyard where vessels were made and repaired. Historians compare the techniques that were used at the Arsenal to the techniques that are used today in modern factory reproduction lines. Ships were brought to different places in different points of their construction, and 20 men worked on a ship in various phases of its construction. New sails, ropes, and ornaments (that they made in the Arsenal) would be put on the ships in order to repair them. In the middle of the 16th century, 16,000 men worked at the Arsenal. The workers enjoyed special privileges and were payed well.== ==At the dawn of the sixteenth century, the republic of Venice reigned as one of the wealthiest and most powerful cities in Europe. By 1540 when the renaissance and the mannerist artists were declining in central Italy, Venetian painters gained the position of supremacy in Europe. Venice would occupy this position for the rest of the century.==

==Venice was the leading center of art in Northern Italy. There were architects all throughout the city that were building beautiful palaces and official buildings. Tiziano Vecellio, called Titian, was the most famous Venetian artist. Titian lived from 1485-1576. Titian received a good portian of his training with the worshiped Italian artist Giovanni Bellini. While he was studying with Giovanni his close friend Giorgione studied alongside. He also inspired some of Titian's artwork. They latter collaborated in a number of artworks together. After the death of Bellini, Titian was awarded the title of official court painter by emperor Charles V in 1530. Titian was particularly famous for his portraits and mythological works. He maintained a large workshop. Titian's enormous talent influenced generations of artists with innnovative painting techniques. Many of Titian's works remain in Venice today, which help to keep it one of the most artistically rich cities in the world.== ==Titian was just one of the many great artists in Venice during the renaissance. Other well known artists that were in Venice during the Renaissance are: Antonello da Messina, El Greco, Albrecht Durer, (They studied in Venice.) Jacopo Bellini, Gentile Bellini, (son of Jacopo Bellini) and Giorgione. Many of their artworks still can be found in Venice today.==

Venice's amazing trade, ship building and artists during the renaissance are just some of the things that make it one of the greatest and most magical cities in the world.
=__Links to other pages:__= Michelangelo (by Courtney) William Shakespeare by Miranda Elizabeth The 1st

=__Resources:__= 1. [] 2. [] 3. [] 4. [] 5. [] 6. [] 7. http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg23/gg23-main1.html 8. Renaissance, Grolier, Volume 10

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