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| 3. Venice |
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(See 1489)| The discovery of the new route to the Indies struck at the old traditional trade through the Levant and at once began to undermine the prosperity of Venice. At the same time the steady advance of the Ottoman Turks left the Venetians the choice between active opposition and accommodation. In general the latter policy was followed, but nevertheless Venice became involved in a number of disastrous conflicts, which cost it most of its outposts in the east. The assault upon the possessions of Venice in Italy (League of Cambrai; (See 1508) proved less successful than the powers had expected, but thenceforth Venice was obliged to remain on the defensive and to observe a neutral attitude as between France and Spain and later between France and Austria. | 1 |
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| 1570 |
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| The Ottoman Turks attacked Cyprus, the largest and most important base of Venetian power in the east. In the ensuing war, the allied Spaniards and Venetians, supported by the papal fleet, won the | 2 |
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| 1571, Oct. 7 |
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| Battle of Lepanto (See 1571, Oct. 7). The Venetians made peace. | 3 |
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| 1573 |
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| Venice abandoned Cyprus and agreed to pay a heavy indemnity. Thenceforth only Candia (Crete), Paros, and the Ionian Islands remained in Venetian hands. (See Other States) | 4 |
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