VENICE
There are many things I find interesting about Venice, such as the Grand Canal, shown in the picture. But I also appreciate its history, especially since the 15th century -- please see below.
History since the 15th Century
Wars of conquest enabled Venice to acquire neighboring territories, and by the late 15th century, the city-state was the leading maritime power in the Christian world.
The beginning of Turkish invasions in the middle of the 15th century marked the end of Venetian greatness. Thereafter, faced with attacks by foreign invaders and other Italian states, its power faded, and the discovery of a sea route to the Indies around the Cape of Good Hope by the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama in 1497-1498 accelerated the decline. In 1508 the Holy Roman Empire, the pope, France, and Spain combined against Venice in the League of Cambrai and divided the Venetian possessions among themselves, and although Venice reacquired its Italian dominions through astute diplomacy in 1516, it never regained its political power.
Links
Click here if want more general information about Venice -- great if you plan to travel there.
A movie which has to do with 16th century Venice is Dangerous Beauty. As for me, you have nothing to worry about: There is no way for me to have dangerous beauty. Click for a movie trailer.
If you want to communicate about Venice, send me at:
<naganoea@lilac.ocn.ne.jp>.
