What it was
The Republic of Venice (“La Serenissima”) was a maritime city-state and trading empire on the northern Adriatic, one of the longest-lived republics in history (traditionally 697-1797).
Role
Ruled by an elected doge and a merchant oligarchy, Venice grew rich as the crossroads of Mediterranean and Eastern trade, held colonies across the Adriatic and Aegean, and played a leading role in the Crusades (the Fourth Crusade was diverted to sack Constantinople in 1204). It was also a center of art, printing, and diplomacy.
Fate
Overtaken by Atlantic trade routes and Ottoman expansion, Venice declined and was finally extinguished by Napoleon in 1797. Its art, architecture, and institutions remain famous, and the city endures as a cultural symbol.