Page 58 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

56  I n T roduCI n G IT a L y

The Rise of Venice

Medieval Italy saw waves of foreign invaders joining in
the struggle for power between popes and emperors. In the
confusion, many northern cities asserted their independence
from feudal overlords. The most powerful was Venice,
governed by its doge and Great Council, which grew rich
through trade with the East and by shipping Crusaders to
fight the Saracens in the Holy Land. Its maritime rivals on The Mediterranean (1250)
the west coast were Genoa and Pisa. Genoese trade routes
Venetian trade routes
Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda, Countess of Tuscany
(1046–1115) supported the
radical Pope Gregory VII Basilica San
against the Emperor Marco Doge’s Palace
Henry IV. When she died,
she left her lands to
the Church.

Sails – for
added speed
Canopy over the
half-deck

The oars, pulled
by slaves, were
the principal
means of
propulsion.

Venetian Galley The columns of
The galleys used by Venice, both San Marco and
as warships and for carrying cargo, San Teodoro had
were similar to ancient Greek vessels. been erected in
the 12th century.
Marco Polo’s Departure for China
Venice traded in Chinese silks and spices imported via
the Middle East, but no Venetian had been to China
before Marco Polo’s father Niccolò. Marco Polo set off
with his father in 1271, returning 25 years later with
fantastic tales of his time at the court of Kublai Khan.

1000 Doge of Venice, Pietro Orseolo II, Medieval students
defeats Dalmatian pirates in Adriatic
11th century School of Law at 1139 Naples
Bologna develops into Europe’s incorporated into
first university Kingdom of Sicily
1000 1050 1100
1061 Normans Robert 1084 Normans sack Rome 1130 Roger II
1030 Norman knight Guiscard and Roger de 1076 Salerno, last Lombard crowned
Rainulf granted county of Hauteville capture Messina city, falls to Normans king of Sicily
Aversa by Duke of Naples from the Arabs 1073–85 Pope Gregory VII 1115 Death of
1063 San Marco in Venice rebuilt reforms Church and papacy Countess Matilda

056-057_EW_Italy.indd 56 20/03/15 10:59 am