What a revelation! I am unfortunately unlettered, and in such reading and self-education as I have undertaken, have naturally avoided episodes of betrayal and deceipt that characterize certain periods and empires, such as Venice, because they caused me grief. At the end of my life now, I find this essay enlightening as to forces and directions in history that I did not heretofore understand.

I previously was mystified why the military campaigns of Europe, ostensibly bent on Christian Empire in the Middle East, instead ended up sacking Constantinople and essentially destroying the extant Christian empire in the East. The Crusades baffled me, but your essay reveals the probable vector for the misdirection of the force of imperial conquest to be Venice, slyly turning the wealth and power of others to it's own purposes.

I will watch the videos and follow the links you provide, to gain greater understanding, and it seems likely that this introduction to the Machiavellian methods of Machiavelli's worst enemy will enable a better understanding of history leading to our present predicament to blossom, perhaps to bear verdant fruit potentiating policies effective in securing our liberty and prosperity.

I am very grateful you have shared this.

Thanks!