- What was Venice like during the 15th and 16th century? Comment especially on its demographics and culture.
Venice in the 14th and 15th century was fighting and acquiring islands and various territories on the way to the Middle East. Venice started declining in the 16th century after various attacks like the Kingdoms of France and Spain. However, Venice flourished and was an important trading centre and art centre due to its stable political climate. There were over a 100000 people living in Venice in the 15th and 16th century. Venetian craftsmen produced various decorative arts, including sculptures, lace, glassworks, paintings and ceramics. Merchants traded wool and silk and various other products.
At the beginning of the 16th century, theatres appeared and were welcomed. Groups of actors performed in the houses of nobles and even they charged admission.
- Why was Venice important during the 15th and 16th century?
Venice was a centre for Renaissance culture in the 15th and 16th century. Architecture, art, music and literature flourished in Venice. The printing of books in the Italian language was initiated in Venice and contributed to the Italian Renaissance. The Venetian School polychoral compositions were famous throughout Europe in the late 16th century.
Trading was also very important in Venice as it was along one of the main trading routes during the Renaissance. More is mentioned in my response to the previous question.
- What was the dominant religion in Venice? How were Jews treated and regarded?
The dominant religion in Venice was Roman Catholicism.
Jews were evicted from England in the 1290s and were forced out of many countries in Europe in the 15th and 16th century. They were allowed in only certain countries like Venice because they had value and were beneficial to the country.
Jews were discriminated by the Christians in the 16th century in Europe, especially in England and Venice. Christians saw Jews as a threat to Christianity and that they were inferior and were excluded from society. In Venice, Jews were restricted from working in certain sectors like in manufacturing. They were not allowed to be bankers, lawyers, doctors or merchants and could only be moneylenders, which were important to the Venetian economy. However, in 1516, there was a set up of a Jewish ghetto in Venice where several thousands of Jews were crammed into the small walled area and were restricted from moving to other parts of the city.
- How is Venice a choice setting for the plot of this play?
Though William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon never visited Venice, other candidates for Shakespeare authorship including de Vere did visit Italy. The personal travels to Venice allowed Shakespeare to gain a better understanding of life in Venice.
The Merchant of Venice had to be set in a place where Jews were allowed, and could not be in countries where Jews were forbidden to live in (most countries in Europe). Venice, however, allowed Jews and there were many instances where those who borrowed from Jewish moneylenders fail to repay their loans. Trading was also common in Venice with Antonio being the merchant.
References:
Westland Network. Venice History. http://www.westland.net/venice/history.htm (26/6/2011)
Esaak, S. The Renaissance in Venice – Art History 101 Basics. About.com http://arthistory.about.com/cs/arthistory10one/a/ven_ren.htm (26/6/2011)
History of Venice. History World. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=gii (26/6/2011)
The Renaissance Secret Team. (29 March 2005). The Jewish Ghetto of Renaissance Venice. open2.net http://www.open2.net/historyandthearts/history/venice_ghetto.html (26/6/2011)
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