A review by caroparr
City of Fortune: How Venice Won and Lost a Naval Empire by Roger Crowley

4.0

If you thought the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas was horrible, meet the Fourth Crusade: when people say airily that the Venetians brought back treasure from Constantinople, they are glossing over the hideous pillaging of that city, with innumerable treasures melted down, chopped in half, gone forever, to say nothing of the slaughter of fellow Christians on their way to kill the "infidel," which came a far second in Venice's calculations. One of Crowley's strengths, in addition to a conversational tone that makes complicated historical minutiae compelling, is his portrayal of the Venetian character: La Serenissima was laser-focused on trade, trade, trade, and stayed in control for centuries by micro-managing every overseas port they owned. Great storytelling and an excellent overview of a thousand years of history.