Change and Challenge
Venice: The Rise and Fall of a Great City State

Change and Challenge
As a rising city, committed to excel, grow and prosper, we must turn to the age-old method for progress - learning from our history. Such an example is Venice, once a great City State, flourishing at its golden age as a centre of arts as well as a thriving trade port. Therefore, let us consider. What was it that contributed to the rise of Venice? And what is there to learn from this?

Political Factors
Venice was well known for its strong government, supported by its citizens, nobles and peasants alike. A strong government is vital to support a growing country, and Venice's government does not only that, but brings Venice into its golden age of justice and peace amongst its people.

The exemplary political system of Venice was also unique, with its system controlled through a simple pyramid of nobles - the Doge, overall in charge; the Ducal Council; the Council of Forty; the Senate; the Great Council; and the General Assembly. Each tier of this system is interdependent of each other, in order to maintain an incorrupted government, and fair and just ruling regime.

The type of people in this political system was also important in order for effectiveness. Therefore, a fair electorial system was put in place to support this exemplary political system. Any elections for an important government posts is started first by the Great Council, who puts together a Nominating Committee. This committee then puts together a pool of candidate, and the important task of picking a capable candidate out of the pool is given to the Great Council through voting, to prevent incompetency. This just electorial system makes sure that only competent people are chosen for important government, and even so, the office term will only last about a year, to prevent acquiring too much power, that might lead to corruption, and retardation of Venice's progress.

A capable and committed leader, chosen through this electorial system, was important, as he was the one who leads Venice into prosperity. The leaders of Venice were forward looking, pragmatic and capable.

Even after elections, the leaders are kept under close surveillance, to prevent corruption or ursurption of power to a dominating family. The Council of Ten was created for this very task - to monitor the people for any possible attempts to gain power. This was support by the fact that an office term only lasts about a year, so usurption of power is near-impossible. Corruption was thus kept under control, and Venice flourished because of these efforts to subdue corruption.

Practical policies made by the pragmatic leaders of Venice also contributed to its progress, and responded well to any challenges it faced. For example, Venice continued trading with the Muslim traders despite many Christian European states cutting off contact from Muslim traders, and because of this connection, its trade improved.

Venice also had a strong navy. This strong navy was important, as Venice was highly dependent on its sea trade, and the navy kept the waters safe from pirates. This attracted many foreign traders, that trusted Venice's safety and stability. The navy was also used to gain territories in the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, such as Arab ports, which greatly helped the economy. Incidently, the Venetian strategy was also to eliminate its competitors, destroying non-Venetian Ships, and protecting Venetian ships.

Lastly, the Citizen's involvement in maintaining public peace ensures stability within a country. In an effective system, Venice was divided into many districts, and each district is given a District Head, which lets the government know about the districts in a wholesome and effective manner. Every district also elects a police chief, called the Lord of the Nightwatch, who works hand in hand with the District Head to ensure public peace, and keep the government well informed of each district. This involvement of the citizens also contributes to them a sense of belonging to the district as well as to Venice.

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Ok, I'll take a break, then continue on this thing. Its not very good, I know, but I'm working on it. I still have Economic and Social Factors, then the Fall of Venice, External factors and Internal Factors. If I keep doing this, I think I'll succeed in remembering sooner or later.

I thought of you yesterday, when I was on the roof, burning diary pages. It was amazing, watching the flames hungrily lick up my regretful, scornful words as if it were a rare delicacy. I couldn't help but notice that the many letters I wrote to you burnt exceptionally slowly, well, slow enough to observe that the flames ate everything up, leaving these two, simple words that my eyes caught, and ate them last, as if to leave an impression on me.

Broken Man.

That's you, by the way. That's what I left you as. But I feel nothing, not anymore. I had my fair share of remorse, guilt, and shame. But I dare not feel so anymore. They are eaten up by the flames, burnt into the sky, dispersed like cheap matchstick smoke. And once the air has cleared, I will move on from you.

I can't help but know that you have not moved on, as much as I pleaded you back when we used to still speak. I don't want to hurt you, simply because I exist. I want to let you know that who I was is gone, that what happened has already happened and passed away. I want to let you know how I feel, but I don't think you deserve those words. I haven't forgiven you for your overwhelming love.

You sent me two messages yesterday. "Why can't you sacrifice for me? Why can't you do something for me?" Well, what can I say? What can I do? I don't even know what you mean to me anymore. You are a shadow now, until the next day we meet eye to eye. On that day, I shall blush in nervousness, and you in anger, then you would exist - another regret I have to solve. Mistakes are gone, and I'm not sure you know that time is passing by. And as glaring as the letters of your name are as they arrange themselves to form a deadly ghost of the past, I will not allow myself to be haunted by you.

A problem, though, is my kindness. I want you to be happy, without me. As crazy as it sounds, I love you. But not in the way you wish it.