The Maritime Republics

Picture from wikimedia: Localisation of the 8 maritime republics with their coats of arms (Amalfi cropped)

Course code: 08 205

Booking will close on Friday 10th January 2025 at 12 noon

Due to limited resources, we are UNABLE TO ACCEPT LATE BOOKINGS after this date.

Venue: Room 1LG04 Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee

Around 1200 Europe witnessed the rebirth of cities, which became centres of important markets and fairs. In Italy, cities had never completely disappeared after the fall of the Roman Empire, so urban development was even more intense than in the rest of Europe. By the mid-13th century, five of the seven European cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants were Italian: Venice, Florence, Milan, Bologna and Genoa. The most prosperous of them was certainly Venice, which, along with other coastal cities, devoted itself very early on to trading by sea. These cities set up fleets, established regular trade exchanges with the Byzantine Empire and countries in the Far East. They were called maritime republics because they became independent from emperors or feudal lords and were ruled by merchants. This course introduces both the most important Italian maritime cities (Venice, Genoa, Pisa, Amalfi) and the smaller ones (Ragusa, Gaeta, Ancona, Noli)

Tutor: Renato Ammannati

Renato studied architecture, urban planning and theology in Rome. A member of the Vatican Commission for the Preservation of Monuments and Works of Art, he worked in Italy and the Vatican State for a number of years. In 2001 he published his first book: 'Apocalisse. Le cose che stanno per accadere. Linearita e reversibilita del tempo nell’ Apocalisse di Giovanni', and in 2010, 'Rivelazione e Storia'; both anthropological analyses of the Book of Revelations. Since 2012 Renato has given continuing education classes on Italian culture, history and art at the University of Dundee.

Comments from his courses with LLD held in 2023/24:

"How well researched and informative Renato's classes are. He is enthusiastic and always willing to answer our questions of which there are many".

"Renato was both informative and amusing in his delivery of the topic. I liked class discussion and the various media he used to broaden the subject. Wonderful".

"Renato’s presentations were excellent, varied, and very informative".

"The atmosphere in the class was cohesive and facilitated stimulating and interesting discussion".

"Excellent thought provoking course".

Enquiries should be sent to: [email protected]

As a volunteer organisation with limited resources, we try to respond to queries as quickly as possible. Please bear with us.

Host or Publisher Lifelong Learning Dundee