World News for Students of English

29-05-2026 15:00

Venice was founded in the 6th century when people ran away into a muddy lagoon to escape Germanic invaders known as the Lombards.

The settlers drove thousands of short wooden piles deep into the ground to squeeze out water and compact the mud. This way, they created an oxygen-free environment that protected the wood from rotting.

Over the centuries, these wooden foundations were reinforced with stone platforms, and the muddy channels turned into a network of canals. Because Venice had no agricultural land, it depended on trade. Its location allowed it to become a maritime power that connected European markets with the Silk Road.

During the Renaissance, Venice became a global center of art, glassmaking, and printing. However, its power declined after the Ottoman Empire disrupted its routes, and new paths for ships were discovered. Today, the floating city no longer relies on trade but on tourism. It faces regular flooding, and its 1,500-year-old wooden foundations are threatened by rising sea levels and motorboat traffic.

Difficult words: rot (to fall apart naturally because of bacteria, water, or fungi), reinforce (to make something stronger by adding extra material or support), maritime (connected with the sea).

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