For most people, Venice is associated with the Renaissance and later seventeenth- and eighteenth-century periods; however, Venice also has a wonderful medieval past, and in this issue, we want to uncover it and find out what makes this city capture the imagination.

We take a look at the ill-fated Tiepolo conspiracy – a failed coup that forever shaped Venice’s political outlook and resulted in the creation of the famous Council of Ten. We also deal with one of the most infamous episodes in Venetian history: the Fourth Crusade. What was Venice’s relationship like with the Byzantine Empire prior to the sacking of Constantinople? What series of events prompted this attack? Moving into entertainment, we take a look at the Venetian connection to medieval board games, and the lesser known, but equally important, contributions of the medieval musicians of the Basilica di San Marco.

Outside of our theme, we look at the clash of cults in the fourth and fifth centuries as Christianity sought to eradicate the last vestiges of pagan magical practice in the crumbling Roman Empire. We also examine the development of the forensic sciences in the Middle Ages – and see the earliest versions of “medieval CSI” at work. In a similar vein, we learn about the scientific achievements of the monk John of Westwyk and reclaim the terms “medieval” and “Middle Ages” from their typically negative associations.

We hope you’ve been enjoying your summer. See you in September!