At the centre of the sea routes: maritime life in Crete between the Middle Ages and the Early Modern era

Summary

ABSTRACT. The author shows the positive consequences of the island's position in the center of the Mediterranean: it was a stopover on maritime routes and a transit center stimulated by the economic activity of the Venetian metropolis. The ports of Candie, La Canée, and Rethymnon were fortified by the Venetians who built arsenals and warehouses and established a specialized administration to control the ports and their activities, and who requested galleys from Crete for the Serenissima'sfleet. The island was central to a vast commercial network, and exported artisanal and agricultural products (wheat, wine, and cheeses).

RÉSUMÉ. L'auteur montre les conséquences positives de la situation de l'île au centre de la Méditerranée : une étape sur les routes maritimes, un centre de transit stimulé par l'activité économique de la métropole vénitienne. Les ports de Candie, La Canée, Rethymnon sont fortifiés par les Vénitiens qui édifient des arsenaux, des entrepôts, établissent une administration spécialisée pour le contrôle des ports et de leurs activités et demandent à la Crète de fournir des galères à la flotte de la Sérénissime. L'île est au coeur d'un vaste réseau commercial et exporte produits agricoles (blé, vin, fromage) et artisanaux.

Crete's position at Europe's south-eastern edge and between three continents (Europe, Asia and Africa) made the island one of the main transit points in the movement of people, goods and ideas of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. In terms of its geomorphology, although its northern coast is extremely fragmented, with peninsulas divided by broad, deep bays, this produces only a limited number of sheltered harbours. This deficiency is compensated for by the use of small anchorages, which continue to play a significant roleto the present day, and primarily by the construction of artificial harbours to serve the island's main cities.

The history of the island is interwoven with that of Venice, given that Crete was one of the Stato da Mar's most important territories from the early 13^th century until 1669, when it was conquered by the Ottomans. Its favourable geographical position and fertile hinterland, coupled with the economic needs of Venice, led to the gradual development of the island.