069 - The Grand Canal of Venice and the Fourth Crusade

In 1204, Christian crusaders sacked the world's largest Christian city, destroying or pillaging countless artifacts, books, and works of art. Some of those works of art ended up in the Most Serene Republic of Venice, for which 1204 represents the beginning of her dominance of the Mediterranean world. The story of how a canal-lined city in a marshy lagoon became a superpower and how cross-wearing soldiers wrecked Constantinople is a sometimes shocking tale, one that only makes sense when you consider the Sunk Cost Fallacy. We've already spent time, money or energy; we should just keep going. Vlad Zamfira from Wonderer's History Podcast joins us to discuss Venetian history and their role in the calamitous Fourth Crusade, while Kate Storm from ourescapeclause.com talks about her favorite city and how to escape the crowds. And of course, we'll talk about tiramisu. I think we can all agree we need some of that right about now. Sources: Hardy, Paula. Lonely Planet Venice & the Veneto Herrin, Judith. Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire Madden, Thomas F. Venice: a New History McCart, Melissa. "The Mysterious Origins of Tiramisu, the Dessert That Took the '80s by Storm" in Eater Norwich, John Julius. Byzantium: the Decline and Fall Phillips, Jonathan. The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople Rick Steves Venice Photograph by Bjoern Eisbaer Music by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by the Wichita State University Chamber Players, John Harrison, soloist.