Venice, Italy, one of the most popular tourism centers in Europe and even the world today, draws attention with its city system built on a swamp. If you think that this was done only to attract tourists, you are wrong, because the story of the construction of Venice is actually a struggle for survival.
If we say let’s take an interesting trip in Europe, one of the first places that will come to mind for many people will be Venice, Italy. You are right, because Venice is truly a unique city that is almost entirely on water. What a great system these guys have set up, if you think they are making money from it. It means you haven’t heard the story of how Venice was built yet.
Venice, a city founded hundreds of years ago, is actually the result of the struggle of the people in the region to escape from the invaders. A group of people escaping from the attacks that caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire came here and To protect their lives, they built an inaccessible city among the waters. Let’s take a closer look at the history of Venice and see how such a city was built on canals.
It all started with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire:
As we have previously explained in full detail in our article here, the real Great Roman Empire was founded in 27 BC. Later the empire In 395, it was divided into West and East. The Western Roman Empire, which had a lifespan of only 81 years, was officially erased from the stage of history in 476.
With the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, everything was actually just beginning. Because to the region The attacks of the Lombards, one of the barbarian Germanic tribes, continued unabated. As the attacks on Northern Italy increased in intensity, especially in 568, people living in the region began to retreat.
In fact, even at that time, in the region called the Venoto islands There were several small settlements inhabited by itinerant fishermen and salt workers. But the newcomers could not stay in these small huts because only 8 percent of the area was built on land. When it comes to the can throat, new techniques began to be found.
The story of how Venice was built is a true example of blood, sweat and tears:
The Venoto islands lay behind a lagoon and invaders could not easily come here. But It was literally a swamp and the land area was extremely limited. Thereupon, the genius architects of the period came up with a primitive version of a foundation laying technique, today called pile foundations.
Almost all the trees around were cut down and an estimated more than 10 million piles were driven. These driven piles were covered with a mixture of salt mud. Thus, although there was no concrete, the wood was prevented from rotting by preventing its contact with water, it turned into almost a stone, and foundations were built that have managed to remain solid until today.
These driven pile foundations were covered with the same material. Two layers of wooden planks and a layer of stone blocks were added on top of that. Thus, land areas were created in the region, which we know as a watery swamp. The people of the region on which the buildings were built were able to access via canals, but it was almost impossible for outsiders to enter.
In the following years, Venice became a rising power:
The name of this new city was the Republic of Venice. Even though nature is under the protection of the Roman Empire, that is, the Byzantine Empire, With the Lombards occupying the Byzantine city of Oderzo political power was shifted here. By the 9th century, the influence of Byzantium had almost disappeared and a national power had awakened in the people of the region.
In the 11th century, people were given the right to vote and be elected, albeit among a small group of nobles. No matter how many conflicts occurred between the Papacy and Byzantium, Venice’s rights were always protected. Because these people who lived in the water were much better sailors than the rest of Europe. They were always a powerful weapon, especially in the fight against the Normans.
For their support in the fight against normals The Byzantine emperor of the period gave the Venetians tax-free trade permission. When we came to the 12th century, the Venetians were in trouble commercially in Constantinople, which was going through difficult times due to the Crusades. Of course, Byzantium did not like this situation. For this reason, they tried to block the Venetians by giving special rights to other Italian merchants.
The westward advance of the Turks changed the moves of the Venetians:
With the Crusades, Venice gained a commercial empire in the Eastern Mediterranean. That’s why there was a constant conflict between them and other Italian states. When we came to the 14th century, these conflicts became even more heated with the spread of the plague. Especially, there was a war going on between them and the Genoese.
Then, in 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Turkish army and the Eastern Roman Empire disappeared. Of course, the Turks did not stay there, they started to move towards Europe from the Balkans. Venice, which did not remain idle during this chaos, began to expand its territory in Europe, albeit with small moves.
Due to the Union of Cambrai established in the 16th century, Venice began to lose power rapidly and Its dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean was shaken. On the other hand, since America was discovered, new trade routes were found. The Turks’ capture of Cyprus infuriated Venice. Even if agreements were made with the Papacy and other European states, things were coming.
Venice, built with great effort on a swamp, was no longer independent:
The Republic of Venice was a country under the rule of nobles since the day it was first founded. However After the enlightenment movement in society with the French Revolution The people had no tolerance for this oligarchic system. The first conflicts started thereupon.
When Napoleon attacked Austria in 1797, he saw Venice as a threat and left it without allies. During this period, the republic collapsed and control passed to Austria. Even though there were a few rebellions in 1848, it didn’t work. When Austria was defeated by the Prussians in 1866, Venice was handed over to the United Kingdom of Italy. So Venice was no longer an independent country.
Venice is now just a ‘beautiful’ city:
The United Kingdom of Italy did not care about Venice’s sailors or its naval power. This was just a beautiful city for them. In 1932, the region was connected by motor vehicles. After the Second World War, socialist governments were active in the city for a long time. Even today, Venice is considered a liberated zone for leftists in Italy.
Even today, debates between innovators and traditionalists continue in the city. Venice, on the one hand, is an active production center, and on the other hand, it is a great tourist destination. But as well as numerous disaster threats such as natural floods Pollution of the environment due to tourists is the biggest problem. The number of people who say that if this city is not well protected, it will disappear in a short time is increasing day by day.
It was built on swamps with an ingenious construction technique. How Venice was built By answering the question, we talked about the details you need to know about the history of the city. Remember, no matter how Europe presents itself today, these people shot each other in the middle of the street just a few decades ago. I mean, art is up to a point.