Rovine del tempio d'Ermopoli; Sepolcro Egiziano a Licopoli; Pianta del sepolcro.

The Mediterranean Sea was the hub of transport, trade and cultural links between three continents: Western Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe. The history of the cultures and people of the Mediterranean region is important for understanding the origin and development of the Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Canaanite, Phoenician, Hebrew, Carthaginian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Ottoman, Christian and Islamic cultures. The Italian "Repubbliche Marinare" (Maritime Republics) of Venice, Genoa, Amalfi and Pisa developed their own "empires" in the Mediterranean shores. The Islamic states had never been major naval powers, and trade from the east to Europe was soon in the hands of Italian traders, especially the Genoese and the Venetians, who profited immensely from it. The Republic of Pisa and later the Republic of Ragusa used diplomacy to further trade and maintained a libertarian approach in civil matters to further sentiment in its inhabitants. The republic of Venice got to dominate the eastern Mediterranean shores after the Fourth Crusade. In 1347 the Black Death spread from Constantinople across the mediterranean basin. In 1453, the Byzantine Empire was extinguished with the fall of Constantinople.

Travel Book Illustrations from 1500-1800

Egypt impressed the imagination of all European cultures for a very loan time. 19th century Egyptomania was as a result of Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign (1798–1801) and, as a result of the scientific study of ancient Egyptian remains and culture inspired by this campaign. Western interest in ancient Egyptian history has led to extensive archaeological expeditions and innumerable collections of these magnificent antiquities worldwide.

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