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Venitian History
N/A
64
History
Undergraduate 3
10/09/2011

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Cards

Term
What is a Doge?
Definition
An autocratic ruler of Venice
Term
Historically, what was the most common symbol used by Venice to represent itself? Why?
Definition
The Lion of Saint Mark
Term
3. Who is Venice's patron saint? What original patron saint did he replace? In what year?
Definition
Saint Mark - replaced Theodore, a long process landmarked by the arrival of St. Mark’s body in Venice in 828 from Alexandria.
Term
4. Why did the Venetians begin to set up dwellings on the water?
Definition
To escape hostile invaders on land
Term
How old was the Venetian Republic when it was overthrown? Who conquered it? In what year?
Definition
The Venetian Republic was overthrown in 1797 by the Austrians and the French. The Republic was 595 years old.
Term
What Italian word is often used to refer to the Venetian Republic, and why?
Definition
La Serenissima, in reference to its title as one of the “Most Serene Republics,” emphasizing the sovereignty of the republic
Term
Name four features characterizing a Venetian palace.
Definition
Faced out on the canals rather than back toward the interior
Neo-Gothic architecture
Marble-clad
Term
How many ''piazze'' are there in Venice?
Definition
1 - There was only one official "square" in Venice, the rest were called "campi"
Term
What is the Venetian term for what would be called a ''piazza'' elsewhere in Italy? Where did this term originate?
Definition
Campo
Term
What was the original purpose for the belltower in Saint Mark's Square? What is the Italian word for "belltower"?
Definition
The Campanile di San Marco was originally built as a watchtower for the dock
Term
Name two early Venetian lagoon settlements.
Definition
Grado, Torcello
Term
In what year was Venice founded?
Definition
421 AD on April 25th
Term
How was corruption prevented in the Venetian government?
Definition
The Council of Ten worked as a checks and balance for the Doge and were voted into office.
Term
Name three famous Venetians of old.
Definition
Marco Polo, San Marco, Tiziano Vecelli, Aquileia
Term
Describe the layout of a typical island making up the city of Venice.
Definition
Central square (field), well in middle, church adjoining, and houses around perimeter
Term
Name three major festivals celebrated in Venice each year, and explain their significance.
Definition
La Biennale
La Carnevale
Sagra del mosto di Sant’Erasmo
Venice film festival: Began in 1932 as part of the biennial
historical Regatta: Historically used to honor foreign dignitaries
Redentore: fireworks and illuminated boats
Festa della Madonna della salute: honor end of black plague of 1630
Term
What region of Italy is Venice located in? What is it known for? What regions neighbor it?
Definition
Veneto: bordered on the east by Friuli Venezia Giulia, to the south my Emilia-Romagna, to the west by Lombardy, and to the north by Trentino-Alto Adige/Sudtirol, and also the country Austria at its northernmost corner.
One of the largest and richest maritime republics and trade empires in the world. well developed indistrialized regions of italy
Term
Name three issues facing Venice today. What problems to they pose for the city?
Definition
Aqua Alta causes flooding in the canal
Corrosion causes fragility in the infrastructure
Tourism causes mobility issues
Term
What nation occupied Venice in the 19th century? What effects did they have on the city?
Definition
Austria, instituted public works programs
Term
When was the campanile in Saint Mark's Square built? Why is its age surprising?
Definition
1902 it was rebuilt after the original collapsed
Term
Name three major literary works (pre-1950) that are set in or otherwise heavily involve
Venice.
Definition
Othello (Shakespeare, ~1603), The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare, ~1596), Death in Venice (Thomas Mann, 1912)
Term
How many bridges are there over the Grand Canal? In what order were they constructed?
Definition
4 (Rialto, Ponte dell’Accademia, Ponte degli Scalzi, Ponte della Constituzione)
Term
What is the name of the bridge connecting Venice to the mainland? What is the significance of its name?
Definition
The bridge is the Ponte della Liberta, renamed at the end of World War II to honor the end of the Fascist dictatorship and the Nazi occupation.
Term
What happened in Venice on November 4, 1966? What happened as a result?
Definition
Venice was flooded, the highest in Venice ever recorded. It made people aware that Venice is sinking and that Venice needs protection, so the MOSE project was developed and Venice in Peril was formed.
Term
What is MOSE?
Definition
Modulo Sperimentale elettromeccanico: project intended to protect Venice from floods by using mobile gates to isolate lagoon from the sea
Term
Name three things Venice was known for in the 1500s.
Definition
1) splendid republic
2) self-regulation
3) sovereignty
Term
In what shape is the Grand Canal?
Definition
An "S"
Term
What are Venetian buildings built on?
Definition
Wooden poles and stone
Term
What empire provided a significant amount of influence on early Venetian government, art, and architecture?
Definition
Byzantine
Term
Did Venice ever co-exist with the United States as a political entity?
Definition
Yes
Term
From where was Venice`s patron saint`s body taken?
Definition
Alexandria
Term
What punishment was used for the first doges?
Definition
mutilation, gouge out the eyes
Term
What is the name of the bell that rings from the belltower in Saint Mark`s Square at midnight?
Definition
Marangona
Term
In its heyday, what was the Venetian Arsenale best known for?
Definition
Mass production of ships
Term
What took place annually at the Festa della Sensa?
Definition
The ruler of Venice married the sea
Term
Name the six Venetian sestieri.
Definition
Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, San Marco, Castello
Term
What did Venice do during the fourth crusade?
Definition
Sacked Constantinople
Term
What was the Venetian gold coin known as?
Definition
sequin (Italian: zecchino)
Term
Historically, what role did the gondola play in Venice?
Definition
Transportation for the aristocrats
Term
In Venice, what is meant by a "squero"?
Definition
Shipyard, see 'The Arsenal'
Term
What type of building primarily lines the Grand Canal in Venice?
Definition
palaces, palazzi
Term
What is/was the Venetian way of referring to a private family's palace?
Definition
Term
Which of the following words is not of Venetian origin?
Definition
arsenal, ciao, ghetto, gondola, lido, quarantine, regatta - the word arsenal is arabic in origin
Term
The Festa della Madonna della Salute takes place in late November in Venice. Why?
Definition
to commemorate the end of the black plague of 1630-1631
Term
What was the city of Venice's peak population?
Definition
c. 150,000
Term
For how many years did the Venetian Republic co-exist with the United States of America?
Definition
21
Term
What is Venice's population today?
Definition
270,000
Term
Who was responsible for the fall of the Venetian Republic?
Definition
Doge Ludovico Manin surrendered unconditionally on May 12 to Napoleon
Term
What effect do boats have on Venetian canals?
Definition
Their wakes erode the sides of the canals
Term
Is Venice sinking?
Definition
Yes
Term
Where is Venice located geographically?
Definition
In a lagoon
Term
Where is Venice located geographically?
Definition
Northwestern Italy
Term
Where may Venetians be buried when they die?
Definition
Grado Basilica
Term
What is the island of Murano known for?
Definition
Glass
Term
What is the Venetian name for the salt marshes in the lagoon?
Definition
barene
Term
Roughly how old is Venice's lagoon?
Definition
4,000 to 6,000 years
Term
Did the lagoon that exists today form naturally or with man's intervention?
Definition
Originally created by floods from the Ice Age, the present lagoon is the result of human intervention.
Term
When did the Venetian lagoon first begin to be occupied?
Definition
5th century, by Romanised people fleeing from invaders (notably Huns)
Term
How many inlets to the Venetian lagoon are there from the Adriatic Sea? What are their names?
Definition
3: Lido, Malamocco, Chioggia
Term
What effect on the lagoon did the port of Marghera have in the 1950s?
Definition
Development of Marghera industrial area - the port was moved nearby. Large areas of marshland were drained for the industrial zones, airport and agriculture. The outer reaches of the lagoon were closed off to protect fish-farms, and new islands were created. Much deeper navigation channels were dug to bring far larger ships - giant oil tankers and container ships - into the new port and industrial zone.
Term
What is "acqua alta"?
Definition
Literally meaning “high water,” acqua alta is the name for the flooding that occurs in Venice in the spring
Term
On what are Venetian houses and buildings constructed?
Definition
Venetian houses and building are constructed on wooden piles which sit beneath the surface of the water. These piles penetrate the layers of sand and mud until they reach the clay. The centuries of submersion in oxygen-poor water has caused much of the wood to petrify to a stone-like structure.
Term
What is the significance of Istrian marble to Venice?
Definition
Istrian marble is the most prevalent stone in Venetian architecture; accounting for 90% of the stone used. It is also one of the most durable materials used in Venice.
Term
Why are boat wakes problematic for Venice? What Italian phrase is used to refer to boat wakes?
Definition
“Moto ondoso” refers to the boat wakes, which are problematic because they erode and damage the foundations of canal-facing buildings and canal walls.
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