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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
This is an enjoyable history of a unique medieval empire—a republic based on trade. There is much wonder to be had that the things chronicled in this book actually did occur-- the old blind doge waving is banner outside the walls of Christian Constantinople in 1204, the yearly sensa (a ritual that takes place on an enormous gilded ship by which a doge confirms Venice’s connection to the sea), the just-in-time precision of the muda (a word which could be thought of as describing a trading enterprise's regular timetable and cargo), the sea battles and sieges (Crowley is guaranteed to give you good sieges and sea battles, and that stuff is like chocolate for me), the ports of the Levant and Venice's relationships with the Mamluks and Ottomons (I found it fascinating that foreigners from different city states had walled off quarters in the Mamluk trading cities like Alexandria), the fierce and violent rivalry between Genoa and Venice, the description of the Black Sea (whose center contains no islands, and whose hydrogen sulfide depths contain no life, and preserve the wooden hulls of sunken ships perfectly), far off Tana built on the north east shore of the Black Sea during the time of the Mongol Empires, the spies, merchant explorers, pirates, cargos... Here’s to the Lion of St. Mark and the gold ducket!
Disappointed. I'm at a loss as to how this got such a high average rating on Goodreads.
On the content: I felt misled. I was hoping for some insight into the commercial empire, the trade routes and partners, the myriad wares and their producers, their varied cultures, etc. I was hoping to learn about maritime innovation, state building, intrigues, or maybe what life was like in Venice itself. I got very little of any of that. What a got was a blow-by-blow account of military exploits, regurgitated from extant sources, and little more.
On the writing: I read a lot of history books. This one seemed very disjointed, to say the least. There was something just off about how historical figures were (or weren't) introduced, about the lack of historical context, about the chronology of the thread jumping around clumsily. The author's style was quite good, but while his occasional use of obviously arcane and obscure vocabulary may have helped stroke his ego, it did little to win me over as a reader.
I guess I should have known better. A book claiming to cover 300 years of maritime dominance (1200-1500) should not leave the reader on dry land (outside the walls of Constantinople) and 4 years in (1204) a full 30% of the way into the book.
I wish I was able to recommend another title, but this is not a subject of concentration for me personally. Suffice it to say, if you're interested in Venetian history, I'm sure you can do better.
On the content: I felt misled. I was hoping for some insight into the commercial empire, the trade routes and partners, the myriad wares and their producers, their varied cultures, etc. I was hoping to learn about maritime innovation, state building, intrigues, or maybe what life was like in Venice itself. I got very little of any of that. What a got was a blow-by-blow account of military exploits, regurgitated from extant sources, and little more.
On the writing: I read a lot of history books. This one seemed very disjointed, to say the least. There was something just off about how historical figures were (or weren't) introduced, about the lack of historical context, about the chronology of the thread jumping around clumsily. The author's style was quite good, but while his occasional use of obviously arcane and obscure vocabulary may have helped stroke his ego, it did little to win me over as a reader.
I guess I should have known better. A book claiming to cover 300 years of maritime dominance (1200-1500) should not leave the reader on dry land (outside the walls of Constantinople) and 4 years in (1204) a full 30% of the way into the book.
I wish I was able to recommend another title, but this is not a subject of concentration for me personally. Suffice it to say, if you're interested in Venetian history, I'm sure you can do better.
As the Western Roman Empire collapsed a small band of refugees retreated into the marshy lagoon which sits at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea. Protected from the advancing barbarian hoards the city they would found there would survive as an independent, democratic commune until the coming of Napoleon Bonaparte, more than thirteen centuries later.
Bereft of land on which to base a feudal system, the Venetians became adept seamen and vociferous merchants. It was these two qualities which allowed the peoples of this small city in the lagoon to dominate the eastern Mediterranean between 1000 and 1500.
It is this story which Crowley sets out to tell and he does it masterfully. A master of pace, he drives the narrative forward and the pages turn at a decent clip. Battles come alive and you end up rooting for one side or another (normally, although not always, the Venetians).
This is not quite a history of Venice and some more context would have been welcome. The exact social and political conditions which allowed the city to flourish and, likewise, the internal politics of Genova and the Byzantium Empire and Ottoman Empires are only discussed in passing. But as a military history it is superb.
Whilst evidently admiring them, Crowley never quite manages to like the Venetians. Their mercantilism is slightly distasteful and their opportunism, such as their appalling conduct during the Fourth Crusade, is, in the long run, largely responsible for their downfall. Yet, for all that, you cannot help backing them and thinking it a bit of a shame that this once great is now but a tourist attraction at the top of the Adriatic.
Bereft of land on which to base a feudal system, the Venetians became adept seamen and vociferous merchants. It was these two qualities which allowed the peoples of this small city in the lagoon to dominate the eastern Mediterranean between 1000 and 1500.
It is this story which Crowley sets out to tell and he does it masterfully. A master of pace, he drives the narrative forward and the pages turn at a decent clip. Battles come alive and you end up rooting for one side or another (normally, although not always, the Venetians).
This is not quite a history of Venice and some more context would have been welcome. The exact social and political conditions which allowed the city to flourish and, likewise, the internal politics of Genova and the Byzantium Empire and Ottoman Empires are only discussed in passing. But as a military history it is superb.
Whilst evidently admiring them, Crowley never quite manages to like the Venetians. Their mercantilism is slightly distasteful and their opportunism, such as their appalling conduct during the Fourth Crusade, is, in the long run, largely responsible for their downfall. Yet, for all that, you cannot help backing them and thinking it a bit of a shame that this once great is now but a tourist attraction at the top of the Adriatic.
Had hoped for a grand biography of the city ala Gotham or Nature's Metropolis. Instead, this is just the account of some significant military campaigns, which was a disappointment.
informative
medium-paced
Very well written. If your imagination can fill in the action, the dramatic twists and turns of the changes of fortune are like a Hollywood blockbuster. An excellent page-turner history book
This is a history told with a strong narrative element that makes it very compelling and readable. It presents a strong coherent theme running through the history which makes it more engaging but which probably also makes it less objective. That is, this book is so readable because the author's primary goal was to make it a compelling story more than an impartial exposition of historical events. That doesn't mean what is here isn't true, just that it is selected with an agenda and point of view. It is true history, but it isn't the same genre as a history textbook. One way this manifests is that major elements of Venetian commerce are missing almost entirely (e.g. it's role as a center of salt and glass production).
This book is perhaps a bit long but is worth a read if you approach it for what it is
This book is perhaps a bit long but is worth a read if you approach it for what it is
A good history of Venetian empire/military engagements/commerce.
Most of us know Venice only for it's canals. But it was actually a really important city in European history, and at one time controlled an empire. It all started when the city was able to redirect the Forth Crusade to accomplish it's own purposes on a rip-roaring, and disgraceful, adventure in Turkey. Venice was a city by merchants and for merchants, with profit as the sole goal. It's interesting to consider the parallels between the Venetian and American empires, and consider the challenges that points to for us.
This book is a great account of the Venetian empire, and it's rise and fall. Crowley does a great job handling a vast breath of material and time - giving generalizations and interesting summaries without getting bogged down in the details, while still digging deep into some of the most important and fascinating episodes. A recommended read.
This book is a great account of the Venetian empire, and it's rise and fall. Crowley does a great job handling a vast breath of material and time - giving generalizations and interesting summaries without getting bogged down in the details, while still digging deep into some of the most important and fascinating episodes. A recommended read.