The Republic of Genoa: The History of the Italian City that Became Influential across the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages

by Charles River Editors

*Includes pictures *Includes contemporary accounts *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents "Can we ascribe the stability and wisdom of the Venetian government, through so many ages, to any thing but the form of government? And is it not easy to point out those defects in the original constitution, which produced the tumultuous governments of Athens and Rome, and ended at last in the ruin of these two famous republics? And so little dependance has this affair on the humours and education of particular men, that one part of the same republic may be wisely conducted, and another weakly, by the same men, merely on account of the difference of the forms and institutions, by which these parts are regulated. Historians inform us that this was actually the case of Genoa. For while the state was always full of sedition, and tumult, and disorder, the bank of St. George, which had become a considerable part of the people, was conducted, for several ages, with the utmost integrity and wisdom.” – David Hume If Venice, Florence, and Rome are the top three, they are often followed by Pisa, Sienna, and Naples, not to mention the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. Indeed, Genoa would come towards the end of a much longer list, and it might be most closely associated with its famous native son, Christopher Columbus, who ultimately sailed for Spain. For avid tourists, Genoa might be the port of call for those wishing to visit the stunning Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast nearby, and for an expert in world politics, the city of Genoa might recall the memories of the tragic events of the 27th G8 summit in July 2001, when, at the height of the anti-globalization movement, protests turned violent and resulted in the death of a 23-year-old Carlo Giuliani. In today’s news, Genoa might represent Italy’s crumbling infrastructure and the apparent powerlessness of its government to repair it - on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, one of the main bridges of the city, the Morandi Bridge, collapsed, killing 43 people and leaving 600 homeless. The bridge’s demise also destroyed Italy’s reputation as an expert in mechanical engineering. Although Genoa cannot compete in the popular imagination with some of Italy’s more famous cities, this busy port town perched above the sea once boasted a powerful empire that rivaled that of Venice. It also lasted for roughly the same time period, rising in the early Middle Ages and coming to an end at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte near the end of the 18th century. Beyond its own success, the city’s position at the head of the Mediterranean gave it an important strategic location from which to observe Italian and European history, as well as the world beyond. Today, historians are starting to correct the imbalance that has focused on Venice, Florence and Rome, and new histories are gradually introducing Genoa to the world, even as much remains to be uncovered. The Republic of The History of the Italian City that Became Influential across the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages examines the highs and lows of Genoa La Superba (“The Proud”), including its humble origins in the 1st century CE, its felicitous rise after the fall of the Roman Empire, its golden age as a mercantile power during the “Genoese Century,” and its demise at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Genoa like never before.

Genres: History, Cities

83 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2019

About the author

Charles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.

Reviews

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very interesting and can be read in a couple hours. Even if it is so brief it covers the main events going on on Genoa and it's main characters from its beginning to its final demise under Napoleon. Not the best read if one is interested in the actual history but very good as an introduction to it.

Sadly there are not a lot of books covering Genoa's maritime empire's history. It's popularity is strongly diminished by the one of its biggest rival, Venice. Nonetheless, as it is briefly depicted in the book, it maintained a similar status as the "Serenissima" in regard to reach, wealth and influence during the middle ages; itself called "La Superba", and only declining after its war with Venice and trade shifted towards the oceans rather than the mediterranean.

[Marteinn Gunnarsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to read before my trip to Genoa. It’s not very long, but it goes into just the right amount of depth to be interesting without feeling heavy. I really enjoyed how it gave context to the city’s history in a way that was clear and engaging. Now I’m even more excited to visit Genoa and see the places mentioned in the book with a better understanding of what they mean.

[John]

I bought this 'book' for $2.99 on Kindle and read it in about an hour. I have an interest in the city of Genova. It paints the history of Genova in very broad strokes but is helpful as a base for further reading.

[Brady Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book took me less than 90 minutes to read. It's about as long as most introductions.

It's an alright introduction. But Very very brief.

[Wade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umm didnt realize it was self published and all of 30 pages, some good info but really not a book in what we think a book is. Like it was a high school report on the subject

[Adam Znasik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stručná história Janova. Vlastne až trochu príliš stručná.