The luxuriant Venice, in days of silk and spices trade with Byzantium, is proudly portrayed by Vittore Carpaccio's paintings, which refined views of the city show the splendour of its architecture and life in the lagoon depicted as if all the tones of the spices (from ginger to cinnamon) coloured the lively alleys intoxicated by the bustle of foreign merchants, the swaying gondolas in the Saint Mark's pool, the myriad of bridges spanned at random between countless islands and even the centre of Venetian trades - Rialto Market.The power of Venice was not exclusively based on Murano's polychrome blown glasses, on or precious silks, however was based on an innate ability to buy and transport refined goods from far and exotic countryside; also its might of the arms was relevant. European economy was so dependent on Venice's Market that it became into the habit of circulating small coupons with average prices of the spices sold at Venice Rialto Market...
Venice enjoyed a uniquely ordered administration headed by the doge, an elected leader whose powers were minutely defined by the Venetians constitution.
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