Venice and the Ottoman Empire: Crash Course World History #19

Summary

In this Crash Course World History episode, John Green explores the mutually beneficial relationship between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, highlighting its impact on the European Renaissance and the voyages of Christopher Columbus. He discusses Venice's maritime trade expertise, the Ottoman's unique ruling class, and how their partnership influenced European exploration and cultural exchange, ultimately leading to the search for new trade routes to the East.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The script discusses the historical relationship between Venice and the Ottoman Empire and its impact on world history.
• 🛶 Venice, being a city of islands, was built for maritime trade and lacked natural resources, relying heavily on commerce for growth.
• 🛍 The Venetians were skilled shipbuilders and traders, known for their merchant ships like the galley and the cog, and established trade treaties with various powers, including the Ottomans.
• 🕌 The Ottoman Empire, one of the longest-lasting and richest empires, had a unique ruling system based on a slave aristocracy, including the devshirme system that created a loyal military and bureaucracy.
• 🔄 The mutually beneficial relationship between Venice and the Ottomans led to Venice's wealth, which was crucial for the European Renaissance, and the spread of ideas and knowledge.
• 🎨 The wealth from Venice's trade with the Ottomans funded art and learning, making Venice a leading city in the early Renaissance.
• 🌾 Venice imported grain from the Ottomans, which had abundant resources, including from the fertile Nile River after the conquest of Egypt in 1517.
• 🧪 Venice's glass industry relied on a special ash imported from the Ottomans, which was essential for creating the vibrant colors of Venetian glass.
• 👑 Venice was a republic with elected leaders, including the doge, who had to answer to the property-owning male populace.
• ⚔️ The Ottomans' control over trade routes after capturing Egypt and their partnership with Venice influenced other Europeans to seek alternative paths to the East, leading to increased exploration.
• 🌐 The script humorously connects historical events to modern concepts like relationships and personal anecdotes to make history more relatable and engaging.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme of the video script is the relationship between the city of Venice and the Ottoman Empire, and how this relationship influenced significant historical events such as the European Renaissance and Christopher Columbus's travels.

Why was Venice built for ocean-going trade?

Venice was built for ocean-going trade because it was situated at the northern tip of the Adriatic Sea and lacked natural resources, which forced the city to rely on trade for growth and prosperity.

What was the significance of the Venetian shipbuilding expertise during the Fourth Crusade?

The Venetian shipbuilding expertise was significant during the Fourth Crusade because the crusaders sought out the Venetians for their ships, highlighting the city's reputation for building merchant ships like the galley and the cog.

How did the Venetians manage to trade with the Islamic world despite religious and moral opposition?

The Venetians managed to trade with the Islamic world by finding ways around the opposition, such as employing a story about secretly transporting the body of St. Mark from Egypt, which allowed them to justify their trade relations.

What role did the Ottoman Empire play in Venice's economy?

The Ottoman Empire played a significant role in Venice's economy by providing essential goods such as grain and a special ash used in the production of Venetian glass. Additionally, the Ottomans facilitated trade by controlling key territories and allowing the Venetians to carry goods through the Mediterranean.

What was unique about the Ottoman Empire's ruling system?

The Ottoman Empire's ruling system was unique because it created a slave aristocracy, where they kidnapped Christian boys, converted them to Islam, and raised them to be either members of the elite military force, the Janissaries, or government bureaucrats, ensuring loyalty only to the Sultan.

How did the relationship between Venice and the Ottomans contribute to the European Renaissance?

The relationship between Venice and the Ottomans contributed to the European Renaissance by making Venice extremely wealthy, which was a prerequisite for funding the art and learning of the Renaissance. Additionally, the connection between Europe and the Islamic world facilitated the flow of ideas and knowledge.

Why did the Ottomans allow the Venetians to handle the trading and carrying of goods?

The Ottomans allowed the Venetians to handle the trading and carrying of goods because the Venetians had centuries of experience as mariners and a large fleet of boats, which allowed the Ottomans to benefit from the trade through taxation without directly managing it.

What was the devshirme system and how did it impact the Ottoman Empire?

The devshirme system was a program where the Ottomans kidnapped Christian boys, converted them to Islam, and trained them to be part of an elite military force or government bureaucrats. This system helped the Ottomans bypass the problem of hereditary nobles and created a ruling class that was loyal only to the Sultan.

How did the control of trade by the Venetians and Ottomans influence European exploration?

The control of trade by the Venetians and Ottomans forced other Europeans to seek alternative paths to the riches of the East, which led to increased investments in exploration and the eventual discovery of new sea routes to Asia and the Americas.

What was the significance of the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517 for Venice?

The Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517 was significant for Venice because it secured the Ottomans' control over the grain trade, which was a vital resource for Venice, and further solidified the mutually beneficial relationship between the two powers.