Venice grew on islands in a lagoon at the head of the Adriatic Sea, where, according to tradition, refugees from the mainland settled during the barbarian invasions that followed the decline of the Roman Empire. The date shown is the legendary foundation date, linked to the dedication of a church at Rialto, and historians regard it as symbolic and not documented. The community developed into the Republic of Venice, ruled by an elected doge, and became a great maritime and commercial power through trade with Byzantium and the eastern Mediterranean. The Venetian state lasted for over a thousand years until Napoleon ended it in 1797. Today the city is known for its canals and architecture and faces the threat of flooding, which a system of mobile barriers has been built to control.
Before and after
- 31 December 406 CEThe Vandals, Alans and Suebi cross the Rhine
- from 408 CE to 670 CEHephthalites
- 24 August 410 CEAlaric and the Visigoths sack Rome
- from 420 CE to 589 CENorthern and Southern dynasties
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
- from 429 CE to 442 CEVandal conquest of Roman Africa
- 28 August 430 CEDeath of Augustine of Hippo
- from 22 June 431 CE to 31 July 431 CEFirst Council of Ephesus
- from 435 CE to 437 CEBurgundian Revolt of Gunther
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 13th century BCEAncient Celts
- c. 1,051 BCEThe Phoenician alphabet spreads
- from c. 753 BCE to 476 CEAncient Rome
- 7th century BCEConstruction of Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- from 312 BCE to 63 BCESeleucid Empire
- from 279 BCE to 1480Construction of Lighthouse of Alexandria
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 5th century.