15,697
edits
Changes
no edit summary
{{#dpl:category=Renaissance History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=9}}
</div>
The Fall of Constantinople profoundly impacted two of the most prominent Italian city-states, Venice and Genoa, great trading and maritime powers. The Fall of Constantinople led to the collapse of Genoese influence in the Eastern Mediterranean and the city’s key ally's loss. The loss of the Constantinople trade led to a decline in the economic fortunes of the city. Indeed, the city went into rapid decline, and it was regularly in a state of near-anarchy as rival noble families battled for control in the states. So dire was the situation that by the early 16th century, under its Doge, was voluntarily submitted to the Spanish monarchy to revive its economy and endemic violence in the city. Venice had arguably played a critical role in Byzantium's decline when it diverted the Fourth Crusade to attack the Empire. It benefitted enormously from the capture of Byzantium by the Fourth Crusade and allowed it to develop a maritime Empire out of former Byzantine possessions. <ref>Pullan, Brian S., History of Early Renaissance Italy (London: Lane, 1973), p. 117</ref>
Venice, after the Fall of Constantinople, was obliged to defend its possession, such as Crete and Thessalonica, when the Turks disrupted its trade. The city-state was to become entangled in a bitter struggle with the Ottomans in the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans. The Venetians opposed the Turks from Cyprus to Albania and managed to inflict several defeats on the Sultans armies. However, the wars with the Ottomans was to weaken the Venetian Empire. It has been argued that the constant wars contributed to the decline of Venice over a period of decades. From Italy's perspective, the Venetians became very preoccupied with the defense of their possessions in the Balkans and the Aegean Sea. As Venice lost territories, it sought to expand into Northern Italy and especially the Po Valley. This factor led to a series of wars, such as the Cambri War (1508-1516). The Fall of Constantinople was a decisive turning point for both Genoa and Venice, although it was not the sole reason for their long decline.<ref>Pullan, p. 20</ref> ====Conclusion==How did the Fall of Constantinople change Italy? ==
[[File: Constantinople Four.jpg|200px|thumb|left| The Battle of Zonchio (1499) between Turks and Venetians]]
The Fall of Constantinople was the end of an era for Europe. The end of the Byzantine Empire was both a blessing and a curse for Renaissance Italy. There was a flood of refugees from Constantinople, and many scholars found sanctuary in the various Italian city-states. These brought with them knowledge of the Ancient classics and precious manuscripts that allowed the humanists better to understand philosophers and other writers from the ancient world. This helped to change the direction of humanist thought, and it began to focus on metaphysical speculation and concepts such as virtue.
