Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. Analogies between Greek and Roman Constitutions History of Venice. Venetians reared in adversity. LATER DEVELOPMENTS IN GOVERNMENT. In the preceding chapters we have made a rough survey of the rise and decline of two ancient powers, governed by constitutions theoretically opposite, though it will have been noted that in practice there were many interesting analogies between them, and close parallels to many points in modern constitutions. In this chapter we will briefly describe certain systems of government developed after the decay of the two nations already discussed, but prior to the creation of any of those constitutions in practice to-day. As the object before us is to lead up to the government of the British Empire, we will cite as the first example of a distinct advance on the Constitutions of Achaia and Eome, that of a people whose geographical surroundings, whose place among their neighbours, and whose rise to power were analogous to those of the inhabitants of the British Empire. In a brief review of their rise and of their system of government, it is believed that some profitable points for future guidance will be made. The early history of Venice is enveloped in mystery. It is sufficient for our purpose, however, to know that certain people from the mainland of Italy took refuge from Attila and his Huns among the isles and estuaries of the Adriatic Sea. This was in the year A.d. 452. The physical conditions with which these pioneers had to contend were such as called for singular fortitude and resourcefulness. The soil was barren, salt-encrusted, and devoid of any mineral; there was neither timber nor shrub, and even drinking water was most difficult to obtain. Yet in this case, as in the history of other successful and masterful...