GY Malu Himself with Half-Baked History Knowledge

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[h=1]Locations, not foreign policies, saved Venice and harmed Genoa[/h]
Published on May 12, 2012

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<!--close .storyLeft-->FORMER foreign minister George Yeo compared the histories of Venice and Genoa, and attributed the latter's earlier loss of independence to an unwise foreign policy of being involved in wars that were not motivated by economic advantage, unlike a cannier Venice ('Venice and Singapore: A study in parallels'; Wednesday).
In my view, while Venice successfully retained its independence for several centuries longer than Genoa, their different fates owed more to the geopolitical outcomes of their respective locations rather than contrasting foreign policies.
Both republics followed largely the same foreign policies of pursuing economic interests, building extensive maritime empires, and were similarly involved in the wars in northern Italy.
Venice's most powerful neighbour in the Middle Ages was first the Byzantine Empire, which was already in decline.
A series of wars between Venice and Genoa in the 13th century lasted more than 100 years, which Venice won eventually.
A weakened Genoa was unable to resist its northern neighbour, a growing French monarchy with ambitions in Italy.
Venice was saved because other Italian states finally rallied together to form the League of Venice to resist France.
Subsequently, Genoa became a repeat casualty because of the rivalry of two powerful neighbours - France and Spain - in their fight over dominance in Italy.
Genoa was located at the northern gateway into Italy and changed hands several times.
On the other hand, the European states found it more useful to support Venice to counter the expansion of the Ottoman Empire.
Certainly, there are valid lessons Singapore can learn from the histories of Venice and Genoa. But we should be careful what lessons we draw from them.
Chen Junyi

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Why is this has been fucker still sprouting nonsense?
Looking to make a political comeback?

 

[I_Hate_Pappies]

Bro, GY not involved in this BE. Focus more juicy news on the Pappies involved this time round.

 

[zeebjii]

Why is this has been fucker still sprouting nonsense?
Looking to make a political comeback?

Over-rated 'statesman'. Tries comically to protray himself as a 'philosopher/intellectual' by listing in FB, 'TAO TE CHING' as one of his fave books and '道可道非常道' as one of his fav quotes. Big FAIL! If he was so good wouldnt have been sent to the slaughter house in last GE.

 

[Cruxx]

Over-rated 'statesman'. Tries comically to protray himself as a 'philosopher/intellectual' by listing in FB, 'TAO TE CHING' as one of his fave books and '道可道非常道' as one of his fav quotes. Big FAIL! If he was so good wouldnt have been sent to the slaughter house in last GE.

Hear, hear! Really pisses me off whenever I hear Sinkie philistines referring to him as an "intellectual".

 

[eatshitndie]

chen junyi is correct. genoa's loss of independence as a maritime republic was due to her weakened state after the fourth and final war between venice and genoa in which genoa's fleet of galleons were destroyed in one battle at the lagoon in chogglia. without a powerful fleet, her military prowess was all but extinguished. if she couldn't defend herself (forget her ambition of taking over the eastern mediterranean), western mediterranean powers such as france and spain were ready to swoop in. genoa was unlucky to get the double whammy as she was located on the "levante" side of the italian riviera, which acted as gateway to italy from the west. not altogether wrong, gy could have strengthened his theory if he argued that genoa at her height in power should have spied westwards to secure an alliance or treaty with either spain or france to cover her arse while her focus was fine tuned to byzantine ambitions. yet leave enough reserves and safeguards at the levante to prevent her arse from being reamed. can't trust anyone foreign eyeing your arse.

what is missing in junyi's response are some of the strategic and tactical details of the final g-v war and battle of chogglia that caused the unravelling of the fortunes of genoa. in history, the final chain of events and root cause that resulted in the sorry state of a regional power is, imo, more important as a lesson than mere geopolitics. it's a historical fact that any neighbor will screw another when a state is terribly weakened, despite all treaty or alliance assurances. such is the reality of geopolitics. in chogglia, which spelled disaster for genoa for centuries to come, venetian admirals and navy were able to introduce new technology and tactics, shipborne cannons, to keep the genovese fleet at bay. stuck in the lagoon like sitting ducks, it was just a matter for the venetian fleet to take genovese galleons out one by one. little details like better tech and new tactics can change geopolitics in a huge way, and the effect can last for centuries.

moral of story: don't be weak. if weak, you're inviting trouble.