Introduction

The introduction sets out the aims of the book and explains its wider relevance, both in the field of Venetian studies and in the historiography on popular politics and resistance in medieval and early modern Europe. First, the introduction discusses the role that was assigned to the popolani—ordinary Venetians—in the Myth of Venice and in modern historiography. Secondly, in the introduction the editors explain the approaches, methods, and concepts used by the contributors. Overall, the introduction emphasizes different aspects of political actions and experiences in late medieval and early modern Venice, a city with no open rebellion and no political representation of the guilds. By examining popular politics in Venice as a range of acts of contestation and of constructive popular political participation, the volume as a whole contributes to the broader debate about popular politics in premodern Europe. Most studies have tended to emphasize violent crowd actions and open rebellion. In contrast, the introduction explains how the chapters collectively propose a more nuanced notion of political interactions, by highlighting the impact of ordinary people on political life in one of premodern Europe’s most important cities.