'The two short miles of shallow water which separated the islands of Rialto from the mainland had somehow conferred on Venice a special, separate status; … She was no longer a city she was a nation. … But a nation founded on trade; … By virtually confining the Venetians to so restricted a space, it had created in them a unique spirit of cohesion and cooperation - a spirit which showed itself not only at times of national crisis but also, and still more impressively, in the day-to-day handling of their affairs. Among Venice's rich merchant aristocracy everyone knew everyone else, and close acquaintance led to mutual trust of a kind that in other cities seldom extended far outside the family circle. In consequence, the Venetians stood alone in their capacity for quick, efficient business administration. A trading venture, even one that involved immense initial outlay, several years' duration and considerable risk, could be arranged on the Rialto in a matter of hours.'

John Julius Norwich, A History of Venice, published by Penguin