Venice 719villages maintained their links with the BYZANTINES in
Ravenna, although by the eighth century this tie had
become theoretical since the locals had begun electing
their own leader, the doge, in 697.
GROWTH IN TRADE AND COMMERCEBetween the eighth and 11th centuries, the core of Venice
was fixed around the islands around the Rialto which
dominated the rest of the island settlements. Venetian MER-
CHANTSstole the RELICSor body of the evangelist Saint
Mark from ALEXANDRIA in 828 and Mark became the
patron saint of the town. His relics were kept in the chapel
of the doge’s fortress, which became the basilica of Saint
Mark. The institutions of the government with the doge as
the chief executive became more elaborate during these
centuries. A merchant elite grew and elected the doge and
many members of the administration. Although this elite
had some possessions on the mainland, their real wealth
arose from the growing commerce and shipping industries
of the town. They benefited greatly from their position as
the trading link between East and West, especially in terms
of slaves, wood, SPICES, SILKS, salt, and fish. They devel-
oped a strong fleet to protect their interests in the Adriatic
Sea and eastern Mediterranean. They cooperated with the
Byzantines in controlling the Adriatic and its coasts, bat-
tling SLAVS, Croatians, and Dalmatians. At the same time
the town remained autonomous from outside authority.
Early in the 12th century, with the success of the First
CRUSADE, the Venetians acquired the ports and privileges
in the Latin East essential for transport and trade there.
Merchants developed extensive ties all over the eastern
Mediterranean and devised new ways of organizing theirVenice, Italy, Saint Mark’s Square (Courtesy Library of Congress)