European History

European Biographies: Kings and Queens of Europe

European history and the biographies of the kings, emperors and tsars.

Spain and Holy Roman Empire

Hapsburg Monarchy (1618-1815)

Imperial Russia

Prussia and Germany

Italian History

Venice

Many traditions derive from Venice's Golden Age, the 16th century. There was great wealth from the control of trade, but the overt show of that wealth was controlled by the state's sumptuary laws. Gilded boats were restricted to the doge and important foreigners so gondolas were painted black. Luxurious clothes couldn't be displayed in public so they were covered with black cloaks. Inside their palazzi, however, there were no limits. Visitors arriving by water came in at the lower level where traded goods such as silk or spices were unloaded and stored. Cloaks removed, sumptuous clothes heavy with jewels were revealed and guests ascended to the piano nobile to be greeted by silks, tapestries, silver, porcelain, and chandeliers of Murano glass. Chests and cabinets held valuable collections of books and coins.