Step inside the world of Venice, a city without a king that ruled the seas for nearly a thousand years. This full length educational documentary traces the complete story of the Venetian maritime empire, from muddy lagoon refuges to a powerful republic commanding trade routes from Flanders to the Levant and the Black Sea.
We follow Venice through its earliest lagoon settlements, the rise of the doges, crusades and contracts, the conquest of Constantinople, and the building of a unique colonial network of ports and islands. You will see how the Arsenal turned shipbuilding into a state industry, how wars with Genoa shaped naval strategy, and why Venice expanded onto the Italian mainland to secure grain and security.
The documentary also explores the Ottoman challenge, the impact of Atlantic trade, the dramatic battle of Lepanto, and the slow shift from expansion to defensive empire, ending with Napoleon and the fall of the Serenissima.
If you enjoy deep, clear, story driven history about trade, power, and institutions, this Venice documentary is for you.