ASIANOVERLAND.NET WINTER EUROPEAN DAY 40/213:  VENICE TO MURANO, ITALY

20-1-81 Grand Canal cruise, Murano Glassmaking

The Venetian city state grew during the decline of the Roman Empire as people fled barbarian invasions to the safety of islands in the Venetian Lagoon. Small communities grew in the lagoon, and Venice became the most prominent. The city of Venice became a highly successful trading port, and by the 11th century dominated trade between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. It also had a strong navy. Many European Crusaders passed through Venice on their way to and from the Holy Land. Treasures of many kinds were bought and sold in Venice: spices, precious metals, gemstones, ivory, silks—and glass. Successful trade bred a wealthy merchant class in addition to the nobles, and the wealthy became patrons of Venice's famous art and architecture.

Glass production in Venice began around 450, as glassmakers from Aquileia at the head of the Adriatic Sea, fled to the islands to escape barbarian invaders. The earliest archaeological evidence of a glass factory in the area comes from the Venetian lagoon island of Torcello and dates from the 7th to 8th century. The original Venetian glassmakers were joined by glassmakers from Byzantium and from the Middle East—which enriched their glassmaking knowledge. Glass was made in the Middle East long before it was made in Europe, though Ancient Roman glass made in Italy, Germany and elsewhere could be extremely sophisticated. Early products included beads, glass for mosaics, small mirrors, and window glass.

Venetian glassmaking grew in importance to the city's economy. Around 1271 the local glassmakers' guild made rules to help preserve glassmaking secrets. It was forbidden to divulge trade secrets outside of Venice. If a glassworker left the city without permission, he would be ordered to return, and if he failed to return, his family would be imprisoned. If he still did not return, an assassin would be sent to kill him. Additional rules specified ingredients used for making glass and the type of wood used as fuel for the furnaces.

A law dated November 8, 1291 confined most of Venice's glassmaking industry to the "island of Murano". Murano is actually a cluster of islands linked by short bridges, located less than 2 kilometres north of the Venetian mainland in the Venetian lagoon. The furnaces used to make molten glass were a fire hazard, especially in cities with wooden structures nearby. Moving the glassmaking industry to Murano removed the threat of a disastrous fire in Venice. The move also kept the technology of glassmaking, and the glassmakers, confined to Murano. This prevented the spread of Venetian glassmaking expertise to potential competitors. Glassmakers were not allowed to leave the island without permission from the government. Leaving without permission, or revealing trade secrets, was punishable by death. Locating the industry on a single island also made it easier for the government to monitor imports and exports.

Murano in the 1200s was a summer resort where the aristocrats of Venice built villas with orchards and gardens. It took about an hour to row a boat from Venice to Murano.  Although the glassmakers could not leave the island, the nobles had no such constraints.

Venice was involved in the Crusades almost from the very beginning; 200 Venetian ships assisted in capturing the coastal cities of Syria after the First Crusade. In 1110, a Venetian fleet of 100 ships tassisted Baldwin I of Jerusalem in capturing the city of Sidon, and in 1123 the Venetians were granted virtual autonomy in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. 

In the 12th century, the Republic of Venice built a large national shipyard that is known as the Venetian Arsenal. Building new and powerful fleets, the republic took control over the eastern Mediterranean. The Venetians also gained extensive trading privileges in the Byzantine Empire, and their ships provided the Byzantine Empire with a navy.

Venice was asked to provide transportation for the Fourth Crusade, and the crusade was diverted to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.  The Crusaders were offered 10,000 Byzantine soldiers to help fight in the Crusade, 500 knights in the Holy Land, and the service of the Byzantine navy (20 ships) in transporting the Crusader army to Egypt, as well as money to pay off the Crusaders' debt to the Republic of Venice with 200,000 silver marks.

The Venetians and French crusaders sieged Constantinople, which was captured and sacked in 1204. Venetians saved from the sack several artistic works, such as the famous four bronze horses, bringing them to Venice, where they are a feature.

↑ Day 212 ↓ Day 214