The History and Culture of the Venetian Republic

How did a group of Italians come to inhabit around 450 A.D. a bevy of small marshy islands at the top of the Adriatic Sea? How did they manage to survive and flourish among a host of hostile forces and perennial enemies? How did they become the richest city in Europe with an empire extending across the Mediterranean Sea to the Holy Land and across almost all of northern Italy? What unique form of government did they evolve to become the most ethnically diverse city in Europe, yet ensure enough solidarity and stability to survive intact for over 1300 years? What kinds of art, architecture, literature and music did they produce with their vast wealth? And what led to their eventual decline and conquest by Napoleon in 1797? These are topics we’ll explore throughout the year in a broadly interdisciplinary approach.

How to Apply

The application process for first-year programs and seminars opens in mid-May. You will need your WUSTL Key to apply, so please be sure to sign up for your WUSTL Key at least 24 hours in advance to activate. There will be a link to the application webform on the First-Year Programs homepage during this time for you to sign up. A statement of interest (no more than 500 words) is required when you submit your application online.

First-Year Programs homepage

Our Courses

Fall

L61 FYP 1703 The Republic of Venice I

The Venetian Republic survived intact from its beginnings in the 5th century A.D. to the Napoleonic conquest of 1797. This course will introduce students to the unique social, cultural and artistic life of the maritime Republic known as the Serenissima. The fall semester will explore the governmental, social, religious, and economic foundations of the republic together with its artistic and architectural expressions up to 1520. The spring term will trace the height of Venice's prosperity and artistic achievements through the painting of Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, the architecture of Sansovino and Palladio, and the music of Monteverdi and Vivaldi, followed by the city's gradual decline to the tourist mecca and playground for the wealthy of Europe it became towards the end of its existence as an independent state.

Spring

L61 FYP 1704 The Republic of Venice II

This course will continue the study of Venetian history and culture, from the mid-sixteenth century to the fall of the Republic to Napoleon in 1797. In addition to studying the political and economic life of the later Republic, we will focus on the impact of various social and cultural issues, such as the Reformation and the Inquisition, early Venetian feminist writers, Carnival and masking, tourism, gambling, courtesans, and the diversity of social life and activities. In the arts, we will consider such subjects as Renaissance and Mannerist architecture, painting by Titian, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, Canaletto, and Francesco Guardi, music by Claudio Monteverdi and Antonio Vivaldi, comedies by Carlo Goldoni, and the development of opera theater and the opera business.