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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

that term, took place about the middle of the fifth century. Situation andnature seemed to point out to these distressed persons the peculiar pathwhich it became their interest to pursue. They were not neglectful of theopportunity, and its manifold advantages ; but their emersion from obscurityto consequence proved slow, though progressive. Cassiodorus, making mentionof the same people, who acquired the name of Venetians from the terri-tory which they had left, at the commencement of the following, or sixthcentury, after mentioning the spot or spots where they had thought proper tosettle, observes, they had no other fence against the waves than hurdles ; noother food but fish ; no wealth besides their boats, and no merchandize butsalt, w'hich they exchanged for other provisions. Insignificant, however, asthe origin of the Venetians, considered as a state, might be, and slow as thesteps were by which they acquired power, they had certainly raised themselvesinto no inconsiderable degree of respectability, at the time of the reign ofCharlemagne, among the Italian potentates or divisions of that country. Italywas then divided into four districts, or territories, which in the language ofhistory are termed states. The first of these was held by the Venetians, thesecond by the Lombards, the third by the Popes, and the fourth bv the Empe-rors of the East. The Venetians, it was observed, by the extensive tradewhich they carried on in the Levant, had acquired very extensive politicalconsequence, and possessing a number of vessels, held no small influence inthe public affairs of Italy, although it does not appear they were at that timepossessed of any towns or districts on the main land or continent.

The foregoing fact, with the remark on it, stands as one of the most incon-trovertible proofs, that great territorial dominion is by no means so essen-tially necessary to political greatness as some persons have effected to considerit. Corroborating instances of this truth have occurred in other quarters of theworld, of which the Genoese, rivals to the Venetians in former times, and theI Iollanders, at least in respect to conduct, at a much more recent period, may.serve as examples. The empire of Charlemagne, erected entirely by militaryprowess, was maintained in its short-lived zenith totally by the same means.It may be easily conceived, from the peculiar nature of its extent, com-

In a note is added, Paul the deacon (de Gestis Langobard, 1. ii. c. xiv. p. 734 .) describes the pro-vinces of Italy about the end of the eighth century.—“ Venetia non solum in paucis insulis quas nuncVenetias dicimus constat. Sed ejus terminus a Pannonias finibus usque Adduam fluvium protelatur.”

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