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Venice and the Mongols: The Eurasian Exchange That Transformed the Medieval World
A global history of commercial and cultural exchange between two great powers of the medieval age
In the mid-thirteenth century, Europe was shaken by the Mongol invasions. Realizing the immense potential for accessing remote markets in the East, Venetian merchants, diplomats, and seafarers established far-flung commercial networks with the Mongol Empire. Venice and the Mongols tells the story of this dynamic new era in world history, one that saw one of the most advanced maritime powers of the age bridge East and West in a new global marketplace created by the Mongol conquests.
In a panoramic narrative spanning nearly two centuries, Nicola Di Cosmo and Lorenzo Pubblici describe how Mongolian support of European merchants allowed for the exchange of goods and ideas across their vast empire, and how cooperation with the khans enabled the Venetian city-state to trade safely, grow its influence, and expand its territory eastward while opening Europe to new markets. Di Cosmo and Pubblici shed light on trade practices, legal structures, and cultural relations, and share new perspectives on Marco Polo’s travels in Mongol-controlled territories. They examine Venetian strategies in the face of Mongol and Genoese rivalry and show how the city-state adapted to the challenges posed by the decline of Mongol authority and the ascendance of the Ottomans in the latter half of the fourteenth century.
Blending vivid storytelling with rich archival research, Venice and the Mongols challenges conventional perspectives on the Mongols as mere agents of destruction and shows how Venice ushered in a new era of commerce and diplomacy in an interconnected medieval world.
In the mid-thirteenth century, Europe was shaken by the Mongol invasions. Realizing the immense potential for accessing remote markets in the East, Venetian merchants, diplomats, and seafarers established far-flung commercial networks with the Mongol Empire. Venice and the Mongols tells the story of this dynamic new era in world history, one that saw one of the most advanced maritime powers of the age bridge East and West in a new global marketplace created by the Mongol conquests.
In a panoramic narrative spanning nearly two centuries, Nicola Di Cosmo and Lorenzo Pubblici describe how Mongolian support of European merchants allowed for the exchange of goods and ideas across their vast empire, and how cooperation with the khans enabled the Venetian city-state to trade safely, grow its influence, and expand its territory eastward while opening Europe to new markets. Di Cosmo and Pubblici shed light on trade practices, legal structures, and cultural relations, and share new perspectives on Marco Polo’s travels in Mongol-controlled territories. They examine Venetian strategies in the face of Mongol and Genoese rivalry and show how the city-state adapted to the challenges posed by the decline of Mongol authority and the ascendance of the Ottomans in the latter half of the fourteenth century.
Blending vivid storytelling with rich archival research, Venice and the Mongols challenges conventional perspectives on the Mongols as mere agents of destruction and shows how Venice ushered in a new era of commerce and diplomacy in an interconnected medieval world.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 22, 2026
Venice and the Mongols is a brilliant, sweeping, and masterfully researched global history that completely reshapes our understanding of the medieval world. Nicola Di Cosmo and Lorenzo Pubblici deliver a panoramic account of how Venetian commercial ambition intertwined with Mongol imperial power, creating an unprecedented network of Eurasian trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange.
What makes this book so compelling is its ability to move past the traditional narrative of the Mongols as purely destructive invaders. Instead, the authors highlight how Mongol governance actively enabled safe long-distance trade, allowing Venice to flourish and bridge East and West. Blending vivid narrative detail with rich archival scholarship and offering fresh context on Marco Polo’s travels, this book is essential reading for historians, university libraries, and anyone fascinated by medieval commerce, global history, and the roots of early globalization.
What makes this book so compelling is its ability to move past the traditional narrative of the Mongols as purely destructive invaders. Instead, the authors highlight how Mongol governance actively enabled safe long-distance trade, allowing Venice to flourish and bridge East and West. Blending vivid narrative detail with rich archival scholarship and offering fresh context on Marco Polo’s travels, this book is essential reading for historians, university libraries, and anyone fascinated by medieval commerce, global history, and the roots of early globalization.
August 20, 2026
Contains a mass of interesting detail of trade routes and practices as well as telling a little known story. So many generalities about the 'silk road' treat it as a space warp connecting the Mediterranean to China; here we find specifics of goods traded and people trading clearly presented and full of detail.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews