Information and Communication in Venice : Rethinking Early Modern Politics

This is a unique investigation of the political uses of different forms of communication - oral, manuscript, and printed - in sixteenth and seventeenth century Venice. De Vivo uses a rich and diverse range of sources - from council debates to leaks and spies' reports, from printed pamphlets to graffiti and rumors - to demonstrate just how closely political communication was intertwined with the wider social and economic life of the city. The book also engages with important wider problems, inviting comparison beyond Venice. For instance, today we take it for granted that communication and politics influence each other through spin-doctoring and media power. What, however, was the use of communication in an age when rulers recognized no political role for their subjects? And what access to political information did those excluded from government have? In answering these questions, de Vivo offers a highly original reinterpretation of early modern politics that steers a course between the tendency of the political historian to view events from the windows of government buildings and the 'history from below' of social historians. As this account shows, neither perspective is sufficient in isolation, because even the most secretive oligarchs, ensconced in the Ducal Palace's most restricted councils, were constantly preoccupied by their vociferous subjects in the squares below. Challenging the social and cultural boundaries of more traditional accounts, the book goes on to show how politics in early modern Venice extended far beyond the patrician elite to involve the entire population, from humble clerks and foreign spies, to notaries, artisans, barbers, and prostitutes. This Is A Unique Investigation Of The Political Uses Of Different Forms Of Communication - Oral, Manuscript, And Printed - In Sixteenth And Seventeenth Century Venice. Today We Take It For Granted That Communication And Politics Influence Each Other Through Spin-doctoring And Media Power. What, However, Was The Use Of Communication In An Age When Rulers Recognized No Political Role For Their Subjects? And What Access To Political Information Did Those Excluded From Government Have? In Answering These Questions, Filippo De Vivo Uses An Extremely Rich And Diverse Range Of Sources - From Council Debates To Leaks And Spies' Reports, From Printed Pamphlets To Graffiti And Rumors. In The Process, He Demonstrates Just How Closely Political Communication Was Intertwined With The Wider Social And Economic Life Of The City. Challenging The Social And Cultural Boundaries Of More Traditional Accounts, He Shows How Politics In Early Modern Venice Extended Far Beyond The Patrician Elite To Involve The Entire Population, From Humble Clerks And Foreign Spies, To Notaries, Artisans, Barbers, And Prostitutes.--book Jacket. Introduction : Wars And Words -- Government -- Political Arena -- City -- Communicative Transactions -- The System Challenged : The Interdict Of 1606-7 -- Propaganda? : Print In Context. Filippo De Vivo. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [259]-300) And Index. A unique investigation of the political uses of different forms of communication - oral, manuscript, and printed - in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Venice. Today we take it for granted that communication and politics influence each other through spin-doctoring and media power. What, however, was the use of communication in an age when rulers recognized no political role for their subjects? And what access to political information did those excluded from government have? In answering these questions, Filippo de Vivo uses an extremely rich and diverse range of sources - from council debates to leaks and spies'reports, from printed pamphlets to graffiti and rumours. In the process, he demonstrates just how closely political communication was intertwined with the wider social and economic life of the city. Challenging the social and cultural boundaries of more traditional accounts, he shows how politics in early modern Venice extended far beyond the patrician elite to involve the entire population, from humble clerks and foreign spies, to notaries, artisans, barbers, and prostitutes. Combining cultural, urban, and political history, this book assesses the extent to which communication and politics mutually influenced each other in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Venice, using a wide range of sources including including rumours, graffiti, spies' reports, council debates, leaks, and printed pamphlets. Combining cultural, urban, and political history, this book assesses the extent to which communication and politics mutually influenced each other in 16th- and 17th-century Venice, using a wide range of sources including rumours, graffiti, spies' reports, council debates, leaks, and printed pamphlets Communication in the government Communication in the political arena Communication in the city Communicative transactions The system challenged : the interdict of 1606-7 Propaganda? : print in context.