This book presents a concise and readable overview of the history of Venice from the fifth century AD to the present day. The main theme is the unique place that Venice has occupied in the history of Europe in general and in Italy in particular. While Venice has been politically part of united Italy since 1866, its development tied it as much to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant as to the Italian peninsula. It is this rich cultural mix which has made Venice such a fascinating, magical ...

Imagining Europe: Essays on the Past, Present and Future of the European Union examines the EU from a variety of perspectives. The collection begins with the expectation that, despite its challenges, the European Union is here to say, but it also proceeds from the premise that imaginative thinking is necessary to guide the 27 member organization into the future. The book offers nine chapters and a substantive introduction to examine the EU from the point-of-view of a commercial enterprise,...