The History of Venice Trivia Quiz

Answer: San Giacomo di Rialto

The city of Venice is believed to have been founded by Roman fishermen who were banned from their original cities. There is also some uncertainty about whether or not San Giacomo di Rialto actually existed in 421 as it was not mentioned in any surviving record from Venice until the 12th century. Nonetheless, those records determined that the church had been around for a time when they were written.

Answer: Exarch Paul

Exarch Paul, real name Paolo Lucio Anafesto, was elected as doge because he was seen as being the most capable person to defend Venice from its many invaders. Historians cannot find any conclusive evidence that Paolo Lucio Anafesto even existed during the 7th century.

Some believe that he was more of a legendary character with roots and traits similar to an actual person. However, others believe in Exarch Paul's authenticity and say that records from Venice during this time period are few and far between, which doesn't prove or disprove anything. Either way, Anafesto is considered the first official Doge of Venice.

Answer: Pepin, King of Lombards

Charlemagne wanted to expand his lands to include Venice and sent Pepin, King of the Lombards, to lay siege it. However, the lagoons of Venice proved to be too much for Pepin, and his troops failed to make any ground in the city. Pepin died soon afterward, leaving Charlemagne to fight for Venice against Nicephorus, Emperor of Byzantium.

The Lombards failure to capture Venice is significant because they had successfully taken nearby Ravenna in 751. With Ravenna in the hands of the Lombards, Byzantium was able to increase dealings and trade with Venice as it no longer had possession of Ravenna.

Answer: St. Mark the Evangelist

It is believed a merchant from Venice (not from the Shakespearean play) stole or purchased ancient relics belonging to Mark the Evangelist while in Alexandria in 828 and donated them to the basilica that would be named after St. Mark. Many Venetian place names are called such after Mark, including the famous Piazza San Marco.

The winged lions are symbolic of his courage as he is sometimes called St. Mark the Lionhearted.

Answer: Salt

Venice was able to use its salt industry to gain the support of surrounding regions and cities, which were used as a buffer from invaders. Ultimately, because Venice controlled the salt trade, cities like Verona had no choice but to pledge their loyalty to Venice, and Venice was able to gain control of territory around the Adriatic Sea including the Dalmatian Coast, parts of Greece and even established a colony as far east as Tanais on the River Don near the Sea of Azov.

Answer: Constantinople

Venice mostly traded with Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire. The two cities pledged allegiance to each other via chrysobulls, or Golden Bulls, which are written decrees. When Constantinople was sacked in 1204, merchants and traders brought their Crusade loot with them to Venice.

Answer: A powerful earthquake flooded the city.

Venice failed to protect Constantinople from the invading Ottomans. After the Ottomans seized control of Constantinople in 1453, they cut off most ties with Venice. By the end of the 15th century, the rest of Europe was colonizing the Americas and Asia and the Republic of Venice did not because leaders felt secure with its allied colonies throughout southern Europe, primarily on the Adriatic and that the Venice-Constantinople alliance would repair itself.

When the alliance did not and Venice looked toward colonization, Venice did not have ships that were capable of sailing long distances and most of the New World had already been claimed and disputed over by other nations.

The Black Plague struck Venice twice in the 16th century, killing nearly half the population, further damaging the city's declining economy and status.

Answer: Austria

Napoleon was known for removing restrictions on the Jewish people in Venice by giving them equal rights. Prior to his coming, the Jewish population were forced to live in a walled ghetto, although after Napoleon many Jews still lived in the ghetto, but they were not obligated to do so and conditions there were improved. Venice in Austria was short lived as in 1805, the Treaty of Pressburg gave it back to Italy under Napoleon.

It went back to Austrian possession in 1814 until 1866 when it became part of the new Kingdom of Italy.

Answer: False

Venice was mostly spared except for Operation Bowler when the British attacked the German Navy in Venice. Notably, the British hit all of their targets without missing, so no landmarks were damaged.

Answer: George Clooney

It was reported that the Clooney-Alamuddin wedding cost over $180 million dollars. Despite that price tag, weddings in Venice are normally inexpensive as many of the most beautiful and popular places in Venice are open to the public for free.