The lion (panthera leo) is one of Africa’s most well known animals. But they not only live in Africa, but in Asia, and once there was even a lion native to the Americas and Europe, though the American and European lions are now extinct. There are eight subspecies currently in existence, and I hope to give a little bit of background on each of them.

Subspecies

The Asiatic Lion

The Asiatic Lion (panthera leo persica) Living in prides in India, are the easiest to tell apart from the other seven subspecies. It is among the biggest of lion subspecies and has a mane that extends all the way down on to the stomach.

The Cape Lion

The cape lion (panthera leo melanochaita) is known by some as an invalid subspecies, as recent DNA testing suggests that it is not it’s own subspecies but it is a southernmost variation of the Transvaal lion.
It is extinct in the wild, though it survives in captivity.

The Transvaal Lion

The Transvaal lion or Southeast lion (panthera leo krugeri) can be found in
the parts of Africa from the edge of the Sahara Desert town to the tip of the continent . These lions are hard to distinguish from the
other subspecies.

The Barbary Lion

The Barbary lion (panthera leo leo) is a subspecies that is also extinct in the
wild, again due to over excessive hunting. They are probably the most rare
of all lion subspecies, it is also one of the largest. With weights of up to
440 lbs. for males. They once ranged from Morocco to Egypt. The last
wild Barbary lion was killed in Morocco, 1922.

The Katanga Lion

The Katanga lion (panthera leo bleyenberghi) can be found in some of the
southwestern countries of Africa; including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia,
and Botswana.

The West African Lion

The West African Lion (panthera leo senegalensis) is not as common as the
Katanga lion as it is only found from Senegal to Nigeria.

The Northeast Congo Lion

The Northeast Congo lion (panthera leo azandica) is found near the banks
of The Congo River, (fairly obvious isn’t it?) but not much else is known
about this subspecies.Prehistoric and/or Extinct Subspecies

Extinct Subspecies

The American Lion

The American lion (panthera leo atrox) lived in large numbers from Alaska
to Peru until around 10,000 years ago. Some people thought it was not a
subspecies, but it’s own species, but science has proven it is simply an
ancient subspecies.

European Cave lions

Firstly there were two European Cave lions. The only difference is that
they existed at different times. The Early European Cave lion (panthera leo
fossilis) lived about 500,000 years ago and fossils have been found in only Italy and
Germany. It was a lot bigger than the African and Asiatic lions of today, it
even reached the size of the American lion, which is the largest of all
subspecies ever known. The European Cave Lion (panthera leo spelaea)
existed Europe and Asia till about 10,000 years ago. Few fossils of this
subspecies have ever been found, but is commonly found in cave paintings,
from these it has been found to have large ears, tufted tails, and perhaps even faint tiger-like stripes.

The East Siberian lion

The east Siberian lion (panthera leo vereshchagini) was found in Russia, Canada and the USA. It was slightly larger than the European Cave lion (panthera leo spelaea) and slightly smaller than the American lion (panthera leo atrox).

The Sri Lanka Lion

Nearly nothing is known about the Sri Lanka lion as only two teeth have been found. Due to fossilization on these teeth scientists have estimated that this subspecies went extinct approximately 39,000 years ago. For awhile it wasn’t positive if the Sri Lanka lion was its own subspecies, but due to testing on the teeth it was declared a subspecies in 1939

Important Note

There are other known types of lion, but not they have not been declared a subspecies due to the fact that they are too similar to another subspecies or are too different and are closer to an independent species to be an official subspecies, but I have listed these possible subspecies anyway.
The European lion (panthera leo europaea)
Panthera leo youngi (no common name exists)
Marozi lion (panthera leo maculatus) Diet & Hunting
Lions, though very powerful, do not have a lot of stamina. They can only run in short bursts (short for a big cat that is) and must surround the prey to some extent before going in for the kill, that is most likely the biggest reasons that lions hunt in groups. The cause of the prey’s death is usually strangulation of suffocation.
The diet of the lion consists of mainly red meats, and they prey mainly on zebra, impala and wildebeest. (I know that at least one pride is so large it can hunt elephants) They can kill other predators too (leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs) but rarely eat them.

Habitat of Lion

In Africa lions usually live in savannah-type area with scattered trees and a body of water close by. In India on the other hand, lions live in scrub forests, and occasionally found in areas that would probably make a good habitat for a Bengal tiger.

Communication of Lion

When resting a lion might rub heads with another, (this gesture seems to be a greeting) and social liking, which is thought to be a symbol of affection.
A lions vocalization includes roaring, mewing, snarling, purring, hissing, coughing, and even a woofing. A lions roar is very specific, usually starting with long roars and ending with shorter ones.

Hybrids & White Lions

The most common and most well known lion-big cat hybrid is Ligers and tigons. The liger, is a cross between a female tiger (a fae) and a male lion, where as a tigon is cross between a male tiger and a lioness. Male ligers and tigons have about a 50% chance they will grow a mane.
There is a hybrid known as a leopon which is a cross between a lion and a leopard, a jaglion which is a cross between a lion and a jaguar, and a lijagulep which is a cross between a female jagulep or lepjag (leopard crossed with a jaguar) and a male lion.

White lions are not an individual subspecies. They are only white due to a recessive gene that has been passed on by both parents. These animals are NOT albino, the pink of their noses and pads of their paws would not have the coloration if they were truly alino. This gene is very similar if not the same to the gene that creates the ghost tiger and is similar to the gene that causes a jaguar of leopard to be black.

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Gir National park

Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary is a 1412 sq km hilly tract of dry deciduous forests, acacia scrub, evergreen and semi-evergreen flora and grasslands, fed by rivers and streams. Among the many water-bodies in the reserve is the Kamleshwar Dam, known for its large crocodile population.

Originally protected by the Nawab of Junagadh, after British viceroys brought to his attention the plight of the lion in Asia, the sanctuary is the jewel of Gujarat's ecological resources.

FAUNA OF GIR

According to official census figures, Gir has about 300 lions and 300 leopards, making it one of the major big-cat concentrations in India. Sambar and spotted deer (chital), blue bull (nilgai), chousingha (the world's only four-horned antelope), chinkara (Indian gazelle) and wild boar thrive in Gir. Jackal, striped hyena, jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat, langur, porcupine, black-naped Indian hare are among the other mammals of Gir.

Gir has a large population of marsh crocodile or mugger, which is among the 40 species of reptiles and amphibians recorded in the sanctuary.

The park checklist has 250 birds and about 50 other species (including the endangered lesser florican and the saras crane) are recorded in the grasslands along the perifery of the sanctuary. Many species like the painted sandgrouse, grey francolin, quails, Asian paradise flycatcher, black-naped monarch, white-browed fantail, Asian brown flycatcher, grey-headed flycatcher, verditer flycatcher, tickell's blue flycatcher, greenish warbler, white-eye, coppersmith barbet, common and marshal's iora, rufous treepie, yellow-footed green pigeon have been spotted by our guests around the lodge itself. Long-billed vulture, Indian white-backed vulture, red-headed (king) vulture, Eurasian griffon vulture, changeable hawk-eagle, crested serpent eagle, bonneli's eagle, greater spotted eagle, lesser spotted eagle, tawny eagle, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, Pallas's fish eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, laggar falcon, red-headed falcon, oriental honey-buzzard, white-eyed buzzard and other raptors have been seen in the sanctuary. Gir also has brown fish owl, Eurasian eagle owl, spotted owlet. In the evening, nightjars can be seen near the lodge gate.

The lodge can also be used as the base to visit the coastal areas from Veraval to Diu Bird Sanctuary for shore birds.

Gir also has about 2000 species of invertebrate and the trails around the lodge can be good for butterfly-spotting.

PEOPLE OF GIR

Gir is the home of the Maldharis, a term used for the many Hindu and Muslim pastoral groups of the area. The Maldhars live in traditional settlements called nesses and tend Jafrabadi buffalos, Gir cows and other livestock. Some of them also have camels, sheep and goats. Among the best-known pastoral groups of Gir is the Sorathi Rabari.

Siddis are a community with African origins. Believed to have come from African countries as mercenaries, slaves and labour, the Siddis grew to become powerful generals, some of them even became rulers. In Gir, there are villages of the Siddis, who are well known for their dances and other performances, and Nagarshi Pir at Jhambur nearby is a major shrine for the Siddi community.

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The Gir is known all over the world as the last home of the Asiatic lion.

History Of Asiatic Lion Live in Sasan Gir

The lion was once widely distributed in Asia Minor and Arabia through Persia to India.

In the Indian sub-continent, its range extended over northern India, as far as east up to Bihar, with the Narmada river marking the southern limit. Before the close of the last century, the Asiatic lion had become extinct from its range except Gir. The probable years of its extermination region-wise were Bihar 1840, Delhi 1834, Bhavalpur 1842, Eastern Vindhyas & Bundelkhand 1865, Central India & Rajasthan 1870 and Western Aravallis 1880. The last animal surviving in the wild outside Saurashtra was reported in 1884.

By the end of the last century, the then Nawab of Junagadh indicated the number of lion to be a dozen in the Gir. Lions struggled to survive during one of the most severe famines between the years 1901 to 1905 as they killed many human beings and domestic cattle. The Nawab of Junagadh provided adequate protection to the animals and population of lion increased between the years 1904 to 1911. After the death of the Nawab, about 12 to 13 lions used to be shot annually. From the year 1911 onwards, shooting was rigidly controlled by the British Administration and during the year 1913, the Chief Forest Officer of Junagadh reported that there were not more than 20 animals in the Gir Forests.

Population estimates of lion given before 1936 were only estimations based on personal knowledge and the first organized census was conducted in 1936 which showed a population of 287 lions. The results of estimate of lions in the Gir Forests during the previous censuses are as follows:

The onslaught of human pressure resulted into shrinkage of the Lion’s habitat and now what remains with us is the Gir as the last refuge of the endangered mammal.

Wildlife conservation programme for the Asiatic Lion was started by the forest Department from September 1965 with the declaration of 1265.01 sq. km area as sanctuary which was expanded up to 1412.1 sq. km till date. With implementation of wildlife management and Gir Development Scheme, population of lions increased gradually from 177 in 1968 to 359 in 2005. Similarly, herbivore population of major animals (Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild boar, Four horned Antelope, Chinkara etc.) has also increased from abut 38221 in 1995 to 49965 in 2005.

Population The Asiatic Lion sasan Gir

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Beaches of Goa Travel And Tourism india

The beaches of Goa are speckled with quaint little beach shacks that serve ice cold beer and spicy Goan cuisine. The list below includes some of my favorite Goa beaches. You won't find any of the more popular, overcrowded beaches here - like Colva and Calangute beach - that are done to death in every Goa travel guide or information brochure. These are only the best beaches to visit, some a little off the beaten track.

Candolim Beach Goa

Candolim is the birth place of Abbe Faria, a Goan Freedom Fighter and the Father of Hypnotism. When we stay at Candolim, we usually book one of the rent-back apartments a stone's throw away from the beach. 

There is little or no shelter close to the beach, but you can hire out a beach umbrella, sample the good food available at the beach shacks that dot the beach, and sun yourself in solitude. 

This Goa beach is very popular with package tourists, but is still not too crowded.

 Sinquerim Beach Goa

Sinquerim beach has clean, white sand, and is close to the historic Fort Aguada, the early 17th century Portuguese fort that was built by the Portuguese to control the entry into River Mandovi and to protect old Goa from enemy attack. 

You can take a long walk from Sinquerim beach all the way up to Candolim beach, which continues all the way north to Baga.

Baga Beach Goa

Baga is a small fishing beach with a grove of shady palms close to the water's edge. 

There are few buses that come all the way to the beach's edge, but none after dark. It's a long walk to the Calangute taxi stand from the beach, so if you plan to stay after sundown, make sure you have your own transport. 

Baga is really an extension of Calangute beach. But unlike Calangute, which is crowded, steep and marred by dangerous undercurrents, the beach at Baga is flat, safe for swimming, and has clean, white sand.

Bambolim Beach Goa

Bambolim beach is a small, clean, largely undiscovered beach, in a shaded spot before the mouth of the river Zuari. 

The entrance to the beach is easily missed and lies along the hill between Goa Medical College and the Goa University. The road goes all the way down to the Bambolim beach resort from where you can make your way to the beach. 

The beach is carpeted with broken mother-of-pearl and other shells, which makes it a haven for shell-collectors. Thick coconut groves line the beach and provide shade and privacy. Its a beautiful beach for a quiet, cozy picnic.

You can enjoy lunch at the Bambolim Beach Resort restaurant, serenaded by one of the local singers or bands. When you decide to head back home, take the road that goes to the beautiful Goa University all the way up to Dona Paula. A little off the road before Dona Paula just before the National Institute of Oceanography, is a restaurant called White House. It serves excellent seafood and has a view of the bay to die for.

Arambol Beach Goa

Arambol Beach is near the traditional fishing village of Arambol and is an isolated stretch of beach known for its rocky and sandy terrain. Until recently Arambol was a favorite Goa beach for hippies and its claim to fame was the wild parties it was host to. The main beach is relatively good for swimming. To the north are quiet bays where you can take long walks with starfish underfoot. There's a hot spring near the main beach that runs into a freshwater lake. Sporty types can enjoy activities like dolphin watching boat trips and paragliding.

Vagator Beach Goa

Vagator is one of the more beautiful white sand Goa beaches. To reach the beach, you have to walk down a steep cliff. The sea here is not safe for swimming, but during the tourist season, it has an active nightlife. The south beach is fairly spread out and more secluded. A little further south of the main beach you'll find the quiter Little Vagator or Ozran beach with a fresh water pool. You can also visit the nearby Chapora Fort. Accomodation is not always easy to find because there are few hotels here.

Benaulim Beach Goa

My strongest memory of Benaulim is that of being bitten by a stray dog. But I also remember all of us - the entire family - feasting on a delicious meal of shellfish we dug out in bucket-loads from the sand. Benaulim beach is more peaceful and serene than Colva and still rather undiscovered by domestic tourists.

According to Hindu mythology, this is the place where the arrow of Lord Parsurama landed when he created the state of Goa. Known in Sanskrit as Banali, it was changed to Benaulim by the Portuguese. The main attractions on this beach are the dolphin cruises. The church of St. John the Baptist on the hill is a wonderful example of Goan Christian architecture. With the first drops of the Indian monsoon, the village breaks into a celebration of thanksgiving for the Feast of São João.

Palolem Beach Goa

Palolem beach, situated in the Canacona district, is also known as "Paradise Beach". Until a few years back, it was among the virgin beaches of Goa. It is a fishing beach popular for its dolphin cruises and fishing trips. At the northern end of the beach is a tiny, island in the middle of a fresh water stream that can be reached by swimming across at low tide.

Agonda Beach Goa

Agonda is a virgin stretch of beach twelve kilometres from Palolem and, until recently, was undiscovered by tourists. It is sometimes frequented by day picnickers. The waters are crystal clear and its easy to see the bottom of the shore while swimming. Watch out for the sharp barnacles if you decide to climb any of the rocks there.

Mobor and Cavelossim Beaches Goa

Cavelossim Beach is a small stretch of beach eleven kilometres south of Colva beach. South of Cavelossim beach is the Mobor beach that currently boasts of five star resorts like the Leela Beach Resort. Both beaches are relatively isolated and there are few beach shacks here. Mobor has a fishing village with a small lagoon near the mouth of a river, and its fun to watch the seagulls that come to feast on the fish drying on the sand.

Ten Simple things you can do this Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22nd, so in honor of Earth Day, I have compiled a list of 10 easy things you can do, to help keep our earth luscious and green! Every one person who does even one thing on this list makes a difference!

I am by no means a “granola nut, Birkenstock wearing, tree hugger” however, I do have kids and I want their planet to be a good, healthy place to live! So go on, pick one- I dare you… Who knows, you might even develop a good habit or something…

1. Slow The Flow

A faucet leaking just one drop per second wastes over 1,300 gallons per year! Most repairs to plumbing fixtures pay for themselves within just a year. Fix it!

2. Think Green When You Clean

Choose nontoxic, naturally derived cleaning products, which are proven effective but won’t cause long term damage to the Earth.


3. Give Weeds A ‘Hand’

Herbicides aren’t the only way to control weeds, and they’re certainly not the most environment-friendly way! Invest in a good pair of gloves and garden tools, and remove weeds by hand. Also, choose natural alternatives to pesticides for getting rid of pests!

4. Walk, Hike, Ride A Bike

If people in the U.S. would occasionally ride a bike for a short errand instead of driving a car, over 70 million gallons of fuel could be saved each year! And there’s the added benefit of enjoying the fresh air and exercise! For short errands, take a hike!

5. Plant A Tree Every Earth Day!

Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion. It also provides shade that keeps homes and cities cooler!

6. Reduce, Reuse Recycle

It’s more than just a slogan. You can start making the world a ‘greener’ place today: return hangers to the cleaners, donate clothing and computers to charities, pack lunches in reusable containers instead of bags, there are hundreds of easy things to do! It’s up to you!


7. Paper not Plastic

For once at the Grocery store, when they ask- say paper please! I know it is less convenient, but there are a lot of non-toxic, biodegradable re-uses for those paper bags! There is no doubt that plastics are notoriously bad. Americans dispose of 10.5 million tons of plastic garbage every year!

8. Go Vegetarian for one day a week

Put down the meat, and cook Alfredo with mushrooms… Tofu sandwiches..or even grilled veggie burgers! There are actually some great tasting recipes for meatless dinners- and I guarantee you won’t miss it as much as you think!

9. Buy Local Fruit & Veggies

Food sold in American supermarkets has to travel an average of 1,500 miles to get from the farm to your plate. Buying locally not only supports your local economy, but cuts out the massive amounts of energy used to store and transport the products across the world


10.Lighten Your Energy Bill

Turn off the lights, the computer and the television when they are not in use. Using only highly efficient and money-saving appliances can reduce the electricity consumption of an average household to one-10th of the national average.

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Agra Fort



Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site located on the banks of River Yamuna at Uttar Pradesh in India. The fort was constructed by the third Mughal emperor Akbar. The fort is made of red sand stone and it consists of small palaces and structures such as Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal and built three marble mosques in them viz. Moti-Masjid, Nagina-Masjid and Mina-Masjid.

Located on the right bank of the River Yamuna in the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh is the Agra Fort; one of the most important strongholds of the Mughals as per Indian history. The fort was constructed by the third Mughal emperor Akbar on the remains of an ancient site known as Badalgarh.

Sikandar Lodi (1487-1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi to shift his capital from Delhi to Agra. The Mughal rulers took the fort from his son Ibrahim Lodi, who held the fort for nine years until he was defeated and killed in the battle of Panipat in 1526 by Humayun the second emperor of Mughal dynasty. Humayun captured the fort and seized vast amount of treasure including the Kohinoor diamond. His father Babur built a baoli (step wall) in Agra and Humayun was coronated here in 1530. After Humayun’s defeat at Bilgram in 1540, Sher Shah of the Sur dynasty occupied Agra fort and garrisoned it.

Akbar arrived in Agra in 1558. He ordered to renovate the fort with red sandstone. Some 4000 builders worked on a daily basis and it was completed in eight years (1565-1573).

The Fort, which is semi-circular in plan, spreads over 94 acres of land and is surrounded by a 21.4 m high fortification wall. There are four gates on its four sides, one of the gates was called khizri-gate (the water gate), which opens to the river front, where ghats (quays) were provided. The fort survived the onslaught of time, nature and men and at present there exists more than two dozens of monuments in the Fort.

Abul Fazl, a court historian of Akbar, records that 5000 buildings were built here beautifully in Bengali and Gujarati style. Most of these buildings have now disappeared. Shah Jehan himself demolished some of these in order to make room for his white marble palaces. Later, the British destroyed most of the buildings for raising barracks. Hardly 30 Mughal buildings have survived on the southeastern side. Of these, the Delhi-Gate, Akbari-Gate and Bengali-Mahal, are representatives of buildings raised during the reign of Akbar.

Shah Jehan raised several white marble palaces and fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal and built three marble mosques in them viz. Moti-Masjid, Nagina-Masjid and Mina-Masjid. Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb in the fort for eight years. Aurangzeb further built the barbicans around the two gates and on the reverse side to strengthen it. Shivaji came to Agra in 1666 and met Aurangzeb in the Diwan-i-Khas. Aurangzeb died in 1707 and 18th century history of Agra Fort is a saga of sieges and plunder during which it was held by the Jats and the Marathas and finally by the British who captured it in 1803.


The beauty of Mughal art and architecture

The Fort of Agra is a perpetual monument to Mughal art and architecture. The fort is a huge complex built of red sandstone and has four gates.

The fort was constructed by the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great. The fort is situated towards the east of Agra city in Uttar Pradesh, India. The walls and roof of the Fort are decorated with splendid example of Mughal architecture.

The Fort houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including Jehangir Palace, Diwan-I-Am, Khas Mahal, Palace of Mirrors and the jewel-like Gem Mosque.

Nagina Masjid in Agra Fort

Nagina Masjid is inside the Agra Fort and is made of white marble. The Fort was built by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar. The Nagina Masjid is also called Gem Mosque. This building was constructed by the Emperor Shah Jehan as a prayer palace with typical cusped arches. It was for the ladies of the court.

The Gem Mosque is situated in the north- west corner of the Machili Bhavan. There is a Mina Bazaar for the royal ladies to buy things from the marble balcony beneath the Nagina Masjid.

The Fort of Agra is an amazing structure comprising  sprawling palaces showcasing not only the Mughal empire under Akbar, but also the advancement of Mughal art and architecture. Agra fort and city is an incredible Indian travel destination.


Jehangir's Palace, Agra Fort

Jehangir’s Palace (Mahal), one of the outstanding and the most beautiful palaces inside the Agra fort. Built by the Mughal emperor Akbar, Agra fort has been listed as one of the monuments in UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The palace is a double storied building made of red sandstone with protruding balconies. The structure is a blend of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles. Its walls and ceiling are painted in bright colours including the golden paint in traditional Rajput style.

Agra fort is an interesting destination for those who travel to the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.


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History and culture of Venice Italy

The first human settlements on the Venice Lagoon islands date back to the 5th and 6th centuries, when the inhabitants from the mainland came to this semi-swamp area to escape the barbaric invasions that followed the fall of the Roman Empire. The populations coming from mainland Venice settled in the lagoon, fighting as hard as they could to survive: little by little this group of pieces of land surrounded by water took on the semblance of a real town, a town that was so unique and special that it would become the only one of its kind in the world. The new inhabitants built several rafts of various sizes, supported by strong wooden poles that were fixed to the underside. The rafts were connected to each other with wooden walkways and houses, buildings and monuments were then built on them.
When Venice had a big enough population to begin to deserve the title of city, it was then annexed to the Byzantine Empire, while maintaining its own independence. In 697, Venice elected its first Doge, giving life to a new government: the Dogado (Maritime Empire). However, the event that finally made Venice’s name in the world took place in 828, when two enterprising Venetian merchants stole the Apostle Mark’s body from Alessandria in Egypt, and secretly transported it to Venice. A huge church, consecrated in 1094, was built to house the remains of the Saint, who then became the patron saint of the city: the Basilica of San Marco.

Since the very beginning, Venice showed strong inclinations towards trade. This increased to the point that at the end of the 11th century, the city set up close trading connections with Byzantium. This was the start of the Republic of Venice, which was finally consecrated in 1202 through the 4th crusade that saw the conquering of Byzantium and then the islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. The eastern city was sacked and the booty was taken to Venice, where it was used to decorate churches and palaces. The four bronze horses that still adorn the main facade of the Basilica of San Marco were also part of that booty.
After the 4th crusade, Venice gained a strong political role due to the fact that it now controlled a large part of the Mediterranean and it also increased its military power and its trading.
The city’s historical rivalry with Genoa exploded under the form of four wars that were fought one after the other until a truce was finally agreed at the end of 1381, when Venice beat Genoa in the famous Battle of Chioggia (1380). Venice then realized that it was necessary for the city to have bases on the mainland too and began to expand towards Padua, Vicenza, Verona, Brescia and Bergamo. Venice’s prestige grew at the same rate as the increase in the land it controlled and was thus given the name of Serenissima. However, danger was round the corner: the Serenissima was so busy expanding on the mainland that it did not realize that the Turks’ power was expanding rapidly, to the point where they took over Constantinople (Byzantium) and some cities on the Greek and Albanian coastlines.

The League of Cambrai was founded in 1508: this was a sort of coalition against Venice which most of the European powers joined. Venice managed to maintain some of its land after seven years of war, but it lost its control over the Mediterranean.
In the 17th century, the Serenissima had to give up Crete, one of its historical lands and the whole of the Peloponnesus area to the Turkish Empire. In the period that followed, Venice’s political power was seriously damaged but there was a considerable increase of the arts and literature in the city, which gave rise to the creation of works of art by Tiepolo, Pietro Longhi and Canova and to theatre plays by Carlo Goldoni.

In 1797, Napoleone Bonaparte conquered Venice, and sacked the whole area, just as he did in the rest of the country. A short while later the Emperor handed over the city to Austria, a ruler that was never accepted by the Venetians: in 1848, the Austrians were run out of the city by a group led by Daniele Manin, and the second Republic of Venice was proclaimed. This new republic did not last for long, however, as Venice was annexed to the new Kingdom of Italy in 1866.