<!--QuoteBegin-jmv575+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jmv575)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->While Venice was the key mercantile site in the Mediterranean from almost its founding to the late renaissance/ early modern period, by the reign of King Phillip II of Spain towards the second half of the 16th century the Venetian star had lost much of its sparkle. The Venetians won the Mediterranean through trade. The did have a strong fleet of war galleys and galleases, but such vessels are extremely ill suited for sail on the ocean. When coupled with Strait of Gibralatar's natural gate status, Venice was cut off from the growing global age of sail of the late 16th early 17th centuries.
The Dutch, using for the most part the same methods the Venitians used before them, created a vast economic empire. The Netherlands and Zeeland were infact occupied by the kingdom of Spain in the 16th century, but still the low countries and their merchants grew fat on Spanish trade. One of the goals of the `ill-fated` Spanish Invasion attempt of England in 1588 was to secure the Spanish control of the Dutch Mercantile districts. The Battles between the English and Spanish in the Channel signified an end to the sovereignty of the galley. The Galleon was now took center stage as the premiere warship. Likewise, trade between the New World and the Far East created a need for deep draft ocean going ships. Galleys, while still seeing limited service, were effectively retired. The Venetians, with a strong Galley fleet and light Mediterranean rigged merchantmen could not compete in the growing global system.
Despite these naval changes, Venice still held the imagination of the world as being the Economic city.
That is the long answer. The short answer is this, I'm trying to recreate the state of the world at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars in 1803 (prior to that, the wars could be called the War Against the French Revolution). Naples was the key Italian player, not Venice.
As for the Barbary Corsairs not being the Caribbean, you are correct. They were on the North African coast. Xebecs weren't in the carribean either. Nor were tartans. Pinnace? First of all, that's not even a Pinnace. And if you wanted to get really really serious, you might have to do something about those roving bands of undead pirates, monkeys, and natives.
Also, when I play, I don't think of it as being in the Caribbean. They are all made up islands anyway.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That was beutiful.
By adding the Italians, I, myself, was trying to get the game more napoleonic, so if venice is a bad choice, i guess i should change the skins, huh? Can't be that much of a difference, though, between venitian and 2 sicilies uniforms though. Do you have any pics?
I really want a historically accurate Napoleonic Carribean, so excuse me for sounding mean, but I HATE THE DAMN XEBECS AND TARTANES AND IMPOSTER PINNACES! What the hell was the tartane for, anyway?
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" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> Keep me posted.