Before the times of its decadence, the merchant republic of Venice was a great power of the Middle Ages. Its partnership with Byzantium, its shipbuilding and seafaring traditions and its trading capability made it powerful and respected. The building of the city of Venice, and its spectacular basilica (Saint Mark's) were extraordinary accomplishments for a city that began as a muddy outpost created by people fleeing the collapse of the late Western Roman Empire. In this episode, we explore this extraordinary chapter of history.