free topic #1: City of the sea, Venice

I wonder that I visit Venice someday. I marbled at the Venetian canals, and Venetian's brave history. So I want to tell you about Venice.

 -Main Island of Venice. All tiny blue lines are canals.

1. Venice city tour

Maybe most of people know Venice as 'The city of water(or sea)'. That means, canals cover all over the city, like streets. this canal network is made of the main stream 'Grande Canale' and dozens of branches. canals are everywhere in Venice, even between two buildings. So in this city, there is no car or bus. Instead, there are many boats. These are divided into three types: water bus(Vaporetto), water taxi, and gondola. Water bus is typical transportation in Venice. Tourists

- Venice Gondola.

and native Venetian mostly use this. It rolls as same as bus does. Water taxi is also same as taxi. Gondola is usually used by tourists. It looks like traditional boat. This boat guides us to famous buildings or places. A gondola is harder to navigate than a motor boat, so only few skilled pilots can drive it. A gondola pilot is a respected profession in Venice.

In fact, There are no 'wonder' like the Pyramids or the Great Walls in Venice. It because no king, no dictator who can order to build stuff like that, is found in Venetian history. But I think it is a great experience seeing, and feeling Venice, the city that most familiar with water in the world. How beautiful!


2. Glorious History

 The city of Venice began with a group of people who are poor and powerless. In the 5th century, powerful and brutal Hun tribes invaded the Roman Empire. They slaughtered in the occupied territories, so people of the empire fled to avoid them. Some of these people have emigrated to the island of reeds in the lagoon, in Venice today.

 At first, there is nothing in Venice, even woods or stone. It's safe, but poor place. People just had two resources: fish, and salt. So they began to trade with neighbor country, in order to get what they need to. Soon, Venice became the core of the region's trade. The city is getting stronger. Venice, once a community of poor people became a city-state. Venetians want to freedom, so their new state is republic.

-Region of Venice in Golden age(15th century).
Red: Venice territory/ Yellow: Controlled by Venetian navy
Green: Ottoman Empire

The republic of Venice had continued to grow by trading. In 10th century, they founded the navy force to protect their merchant ships and sweep Saracen corsair, which rampaged in the medieval Mediterranean sea. Then, merchants could cross the sea toward more distant countries. In this way, Venice influenced its economic, politic power throughout the eastern Mediterranean in golden age. Venice was the most prosperous during the 15th century.

-Battle of Lepanto(in 1571)

However, since then Venice faced very strong rival, Ottoman Empire. This country expanded explosively during 15-16th century. Soon, they attacked Venetian territory. Venice had hundreds of island and huge wealth, but its 'total population' was only 150,000, while the Ottomans could collect 'soldiers' over 150,000. Venice fought against them with other European countries, and carried the day in Lepanto, Greece(1571). However, they couldn't stop their enemy captured their colonies, and cities. Although they lost all the glory, maintain independent country until 1797, when Napoleon conquers Venice.

The 'Republic of Venice' was over, but the 'city of Venice' wasn't over. Since 1797, Venice's owner has changed, and finally been included in Italy(1866). Now, there are no merchants but lots of tourists in Venice. Today, Venice is still alive as one of the most famous and unique tourist site.