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THE ARSENAL of VENICE
The Arsenal of Venice was one of the the largest industrial sites in Europe in the 16th
century. This was the hub of Venetian ship building, supporting the power of the Venetian
republic. Both warships and merchant vessels were built there.
The Significance of the Arsenal
The Arsenal was the machine that powered the Venetian commercial and military fleet.
Initially established around 1104, it reached its peak during the 16th century. It employed up
to 16,000 workers at the same time. In preparation for the Ottoman–Venetian War, the
Arsenal was able to outfit and launch 100 ships within two months, an astounding feat
compared to all other Arsenals in Europe. In 1574, King Henry of France watched the
outfitting of an entire ship during his lunch.
The End of the Arsenal
The Arsenal supported the naval power of Venice. As the Venetian Republic declined, so did
the Arsenal. With the fall of Venice to Napoleon in 1797, the Republic ended, as did the