As Rome tottered and fell in the fifth century, refugees fled to the islands off the northeast coast of the Adriadic. The few miles off the mainland provided a sanctuary where a remarkable city state and empire developed that remained independent until 1797 when Napoleon seized the city and wiped away it's independence. A weighty tome at 647 pages, it gallops over a 1200 span focusing on politics and a dizzying catalog of wars, won and lost. The city prospered by looking towards Asia where it cornered much of the lucrative trade. Venice was always single-minded in its pursuit of advantage and with its domination of the seas it established a string of colonies, picking over the carcus of a declining Byzantine empire to pick up Cyprus, Corfu, Crete, and cities along the coast of Greece and Asia. Venice diverted one of the crusades to sack Constantanople and steal art treasures to adorn their churches in Venice. However, the dismantling of the Byzantines paved the way for the ascendancy of the Turks who in turn conquered the Venetian colonies and broke the back of the Venetian trade monopoly. At the same time the Portuguese showed the way to Asia by maritime routes which further eroded the vitality go Venice. Venice then turned to expanding its sway over northern Italy ruling Padua, Verona, and many other smaller cities of the north. This, in turn brought them into almost constant warfare with their neighbors marked by shifting alliances and the use of mercenaries. Venice fought with Genoa, Florence, Milan, Naples, the French, pirates from the Dalmatian coast, the Turks, various popes, Hungarian marauders. Venice held its own with a quirky constitution that called for elected Doges, and a legislature of nobles. Time and again, when faced with a crisis, the Venetians imposed a stiff war tax and rallied to the colors.

The book is relatively weak on the cultural achievements of Venice which built magnificent churches and was the inspiration for wonderful artists even as their power waned. Venice shows then declining empires can be a crucible for artistic genius.

One of the best history reads I've ever experienced. Venice is a unique city in the world, for its culture and history. It was a Republic that lasted over 1000 years, had the most civilized and liberal constitution in the world during its whole existence, up until the creation of the United States of America. Venice truly was the "city on a hill", the light that shines in the darkness of Europe, where everywhere around her there was tyranny, fanaticism, intolerance and ignorance, Venice stood out from the crowd of nations, like a rare species out of its proper environment. And as a rare species we can study her too, like in a lab. Her long history can be easily contrasted to those of more orthodox nations of her time. Venice skipped altogether the feudal times. Watching her birth is like watching the United States being born, only over 700 years before. She didn't need any Independence War, had no civil war to lament, she went straight to business. She went straight to making herself an empire, a military and commercial world empire, out of the blue, like the US in the 19th century.

She also avoided religious entanglements and wars. Fanaticism was not her thing. She was born free and lived free. She was the first ever free and independent state in the world. Ruled by a cultivated class, oligarchy, yes, but in the author's words, a remarkably broadly based one. A nation that was, and stood for a thousand years, way ahead of her time.

Today we may think of Venice as beautiful place, we think of art. Well, that's all true, but that's the least important thing -in my opinion- about this remarkable city. Her beauty is only a symptom of her political stability and her talented citizenry throughout the ages. The Serenissima Republica is a political case to be studied and admired. The Old Lady died old, but what a life she had. Her story is told as beautifully as befits this wonderful city.

An extended history like this one reads something like a biography, from brave youth through the prime years to decline and demise. The story of Venice is also a sort of mirror to the Europe of the corresponding eras, an ornate reflection of greater forces all around. Told with an occasional dry witticism and a deep love for the material, Norwich's description of Venice's past is rich and detailed. I was totally enthralled by this book but it covers so much time, so many complexities of politics and war as to be overwhelming, though I cannot imagine the story better told.

PAX TIBI MARCE EVANGELISTA MEUS


I have always loved Venice, with an intense passion that I have never felt for any other place.
Venice is one of whose very few special cities where the soul of the receptive visitor can full immerse itself into the magic of almost two thousand years of Her proud and unique history, breath Her melancholic beauty and fall in love with Her special atmosphere; Venice is a special place, inviting introspective contemplation while aimlessly meandering, after dusk, in the embrace of the enveloping mists of a winter evening... when time itself seems to have stopped, and when the silence is broken only by occasional footsteps and the tranquil ripple of the water.






Experiencing Venice in Her true nature is a deep, intensely personal experience – no wonder Venice was a mandatory part of the “Grand Tour”, the educational rite of passage of young upper-class gentlemen that flourished from 1660 until the mid 19-th century. No wonder many men of art and intellect found the city a constant fountain of inspiration throughout the centuries, and fell in love with Her.




It is sad how many visitors, in this age of mass tourism and gigantic cruise ships, do not even begin to understand and appreciate what this city is about, and Her very peculiar culture and history.
But I must say that the author absolutely gets what Venice is about; he understand Her much better than the large majority of foreigners who have ever written about the city, and actually better than many Italians, who too often fail to appreciate how profoundly different Venice is (historically, culturally, even aesthetically) from the rest of the country.

The author does repeatedly highlight the beauty and uniqueness of the city, towards which his passion transpires constantly, but he is also very good at providing a multi-faceted, riveting, intriguing and academically brilliant history of the city. He manages to condense, in a single book, all the main events and trends of the very complex history of a city that played an important role in European history – not a mean feat indeed, especially considering that there are very few mistakes and very few inaccurate generalizations.
The early history of the city feels somewhat hurried and it could have been developed to better detail, but overall the books seems quite balanced. I would have liked more space allocated to the architectural and cultural history of the city, but I guess that this would have had to come at the expense of the general political and social history of the Republic - which would not have been easy considering the limited space available within a single book with such a wide and ambitious scope.
Overall, the author's writing style, only very occasionally dry, often conversational, and occasionally even lyrical, keeps the reader's attention quite high - only very occasionally the book reads like a dry series of events and dates.

As the author beautifully says, "however majestic the churches, however magnificent the palazzi, however dazzling the pictures, the ultimate masterpiece remains Venice itself". Very true, but there is much more to Venice than the outstanding and special beauty of Her architecture, Her remarkable natural environment, the sweetness and wholesome sensuality of Her music as represented by the likes of Vivaldi, or the timeless serenity and confident luminosity of Cananetto's paintings: Venice is also a remarkably unique polity, whose history starkly distinguishes Her from any other political entity in history.
Venice was the commercial and cultural crossroad between East and West, the most Byzantine city in Western Christendom, as visible for example by contemplating both the exterior and the interior of the stunning Saint Mark's Basilica.


Venice was the mistress of the Mediterranean for the most part of its history (supported by an amazingly efficient shipbuilding industry, capable of turning out fully-equipped warships at the rate of one every few hours); a remarkably efficient, tolerant, broadly based, secular oligarchy based on commonsensical principles of commerce and wealth, never falling into the traps of religious fanaticism or autocratic principles (as opposed to what much of Europe repeatedly experienced throughout its history).
A proudly independent, stable republic for over 1000 years, whose political stability, never seriously shaken by Her occasional political, military or commercial reversals, or the occasional internecine strife of Her oligarchic elites, continued to be the envy and wonder of the civilized world. While in Europe the feudal nobility remained haughtily aloof from trade, in Venice there never was a separate military caste: the nobles were merchants, the merchants nobles, and the interests of both were identical.



The author is very good at highlighting the peculiar structure of the Republican government and of its social fabric, and the progressive evolution of her political structures into a very complex polity with an incredibly sophisticated system of checks and balances; while famous for its stability, the Republic was not immutable, and the author is very good at highlighting these continuous and progressive changes dictated by internal as well as external pressures.
The competing and immense pressures on the Venetian government coming from the major international players in Italian and European politics, and the many instances where these required very difficult decisions by the Venetian authorities, are vividly and skillfully represented by the author, whose riveting narrative deftly and brilliantly navigates through the complexity of European politics, and in particular through the maddeningly complex Italian politics of the Machiavelli Renaissance Italy.

Venice was famed for her wealth and her progressive attitudes to many aspects of social life: Venetians have always loved life, and were always famous for their deeply aesthetic sensibility and a relaxed attitude to social customs.


Apart from the notoriously beautiful and skillful courtesans providing services to locals and visitors alike, Venice was, for example, also famous for founding the first national health service in Europe, if not the world.

Venice was tolerant of all religious philosophies, for as long as they did not threaten the stability of the state, and the freedom of the press was quite wide. Almost 200 printing presses were operating in Venice by the end of the 15th century – around one fourth of the total European production.

As the author correctly highlights, Venice interest in the Crusades did not entail any religious crusading fervour: Venetians were interested in the Crusades only in so far as they opened up new commercial opportunities. Ideology never played any significant part in Venice political stance and decisions to engage in war and territorial expansion: the main drivers were pragmatically based on development of commerce and wealth. This was also the case for the infamous 4th crusade, when Venice played a significant role in the capture of Constantinople: one of the darkest moment of Western Christendom and of Venice itself, all the more bitterly upsetting if we consider that Venice was the child of Byzantium, and had in the past, and in many cases, supported Byzantium with Her fleet. It must be said that the author is very balanced in presenting all the negative repercussions of the 4th Crusade, and the ruthlessness of the policies pursued by Venice, but also in highlighting the short and long term reasons why Venice decided to embark on such course of action.

It is however one of those deep ironies of history that Venice, having contributed to the demise of the Byzantine Empire, then had to confront, partially as a result of it, the full power of the Turkish expansion into Europe, which she then critically contributed to contain in events such as the symbolically important Battle of Lepanto of 1571.



On the other hand, while Venice contributed significantly to the containment of the Turkish menace in Europe, She was no favorite child of the Pope. On the contrary, she had always a pretty testy, if not openly conflictual, relationship with the Papacy – it might even be claimed that it was one of the first examples of secular states in Europe: the Church was kept rigidly in its place, its duties and powers exclusively pastoral, and barred from the slightest interference in affairs of state: bishops were elected by the Venetian Senate, not by Rome. Venice received Papal interdictions more than once, in Her long history, because of Her fierce independence from the Papacy.
The Papal interdiction of 1606 gained the following reply from the Venetian government: “We ignore your excommunication: it is nothing to us”. It is noteworthy that, after the successful Venetian defiance of such interdiction, no more interdiction was ever to be raised by the Papacy against any other European state.
This complex relationship between Venice and the Papacy is represented by the author with balance and accuracy, even though it must be said that the author's sympathy for the Venetian position is quite clear. The complex relationship between Venice and the Turks is also represented by the author with remarkable balance and detail, where the intermingling of political, commercial and military aspects is highlighted with lucidity and precision.
The author does not fail to highlight that there was no particular religious nor ideological consideration in driving the relationship of Venice with both the Papacy and the Turks: Venice never burnt an heretic, and it always maintained that moderate, humanist outlook which had sprung from the Renaissance. She had synagogues, Greek Orthodox churches, an Armenian church monastery, and a Muslim mosque.
Below is a picture of the Celebration of Sunday of Orthodoxy in Venice held in 2011:


It is probably another of those ironies of history that the Venetian Republic was killed by the supposed representatives of the Age of Reason, whose values she had implemented in so many instances – the revolutionary French armies lead by Napoleon. By that time, however, she was already a tired old lady, whose heavy make-up could not hide the devastating results of the obsolescence of her shipbuilding techniques, the deterioration of her social fabric, her commercial decline due to the significantly altered trade flows (and the resulting marginality of her geographical location) and the competition of Northern European powers. The author does not fail to highlight these major elements contributing to the decay of Venice, however I would have liked an analysis in more depth of this latest period of Venetian history.

To me, however, as to many people who appreciate Her, Venice is still a timelessly beautiful, elegant, fascinating if somewhat moody and elusive lady with an amazing and unique history – an history represented with empathy, skill, competence and passion by this gifted author - a passion which I wholeheartedly share - Venice will always be the beautiful Queen of the Sea


Highly recommended (4.5 stars rounded up to 5) - especially if you are lucky enough to be planning a visit to this enchanting city.

"A History of Venice" by John Julius Norwich is undoubtedly a masterpiece and without doubt my favorite book. Having revisited its pages three times, I can confidently say that Norwich has crafted an exceptional and comprehensive account of the Venetian Republic. Through his meticulous research and engaging narrative style, Norwich delves deep into the fascinating history of Venice, a city-state renowned for its focus on trade and enduring oligarchic governance.

What sets this book apart is its scope. Norwich goes beyond merely recounting the history of Venice; he paints a vivid portrait of the Italian states, the Roman Empire, the Crusades, and the pivotal periods of the Dark Ages and the Renaissance. In doing so, he demonstrates how Venice's story is intertwined with the broader tapestry of European history. Each chapter offers insights into the political, economic, and cultural dynamics that shaped Venice and, by extension, the continent as a whole.

Moreover, Norwich skillfully navigates the complexities of Venetian politics, shedding light on the intricate balance of power that sustained the Republic for centuries.

Through reading "A History of Venice," I came to appreciate the profound impact that Venice had on the course of European history. Norwich convincingly argues that without an understanding of Venice's history, one cannot fully grasp the broader narrative of Europe. Indeed, Venice served as a nexus of trade, culture, and diplomacy, shaping the continent's destiny in ways that are still felt today. As such, Norwich's book not only enriches our understanding of Venetian history but also offers invaluable insights into the broader sweep of European civilization.

In conclusion, "A History of Venice" is a tour de force that deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in European history. Norwich's masterful storytelling, coupled with his thorough research and keen insights, make this book an indispensable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike. Whether read for the first time or revisited multiple times, "A History of Venice" continues to captivate and enlighten, solidifying its status as a timeless classic.

A very thorough history, written first some 40 years ago, covering a span of over 1300 years. There is a lot of story here - European and Mediterranean centric, with a huge cast of characters. It follows a rigid chronological order, even with the dates covered at the head of each page which I found useful. It also does focus heavily on the sequence, background and personality of the Doge, and even doesn't lose an opportunity to document his death, place of burial and splendour of memorial (or lack of one). I found this entertaining, but also felt that the lives of the majority of Venetians was hardly covered. Perhaps it is a reflection of the changes in historical focus over the past decades. Was overall though, a detailed, concise and enlightening work.

Dull

John Julius writes old-school narrative history. Simple.
But, he writes it better than almost anyone else, with his magical ability to condense and reveal a complex situation with an elegant turn of phrase.
Personally I read him as much for the joy of his writing as for the historical knowledge transmitted.
If you want a grasp of the full narrative story of Venice form start to finish- I doubt you will do better.

There are so many things I could say about this book. None of them are pleasant. Why this book was placed on my 100 books challenge poster is well beyond my understanding. It was pure drudgery to push through the 639! pages of name after name after name from the history of Venice beginning before 727 until a thousand years later. Doge, War, Peace, Religion, Death on repeat. Unless you are a scholar or an insomniac (or doing this challenge with me), do yourself a favor and skip this one.

This book is as excellently written as his his histories of Sicily and Byzantium. If you love history, read it.

The author loves Venice and it can do no wrong - and its enemies can do no right. I could see why casual readers of history like this book but for me I was looking for something a little more scholarly. I did learn from this book but only because I knew nothing about Venice in the first place other than visiting 25 years ago. Go ahead and read it but astute readers will pick up on this.

This book is one of the most impressing history books i have ever read. The author simply has a high storytelling hability. One thinks of the republic with the same feelings that the Author describes, totally recommended, for being such a dense book there were just some small boring parts.