In preparation for reading the Shakespeare drama Othello, it is helpful to learn some of the background information of the conflicts in this time. The Moors were people originally from Northern Africa who lived in Spain, Sicily, Malta, and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula as well as North Africa. Othello is a Moor as we will learn, but they are usually people of Muslim heritage. Originally from Venice, the Venetians were known for having a peaceful society and are referenced regularly to be loving, romantic people who avoided civil war or foreign invasion for hundreds of years. Florentines came from Florence, also in Italy, and were known for having some of greatest artwork, as well as having been ruled by many wealthy citizens and elite families. Many died during the Bubonic Plague. The Turks were from the Ottoman empire, and the Ottoman's sent many Turks to live in Venice between 1300 and 1600. At some points in history, the French controlled parts of the Ottoman empire. Cyprus is a small island off of the coast of Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea. In terms of interactions between each of these people, Venice was certainly the trade center of Europe and debatably the rest of the world at this time. Their ideas spread EVERYWHERE. Because all of these groups were fairly close in proximity, many were involved in the Crusades (especially the Turks in the Ottoman empire, who were located where the crusades went), and also were included in many clashes with the neighboring Byzantine empire.
"European Imperialism and Reactions: China, Ottoman Empire, and Japan 1800-1914." N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
"History of Florence." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Florence>.
"List of Naval Battles." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
"Moors." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
"Shakespeare and the Venetions." Udallas.edu. University of Dallas, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://www.udallas.edu/rome/romedocuments/shakespeare_docs/venice_and_shakespeare.pdf>.
http://www.theworldeconomy.org/advances/advances2.html
"History of Florence." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Florence>.
"List of Naval Battles." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
"Moors." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
"Shakespeare and the Venetions." Udallas.edu. University of Dallas, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://www.udallas.edu/rome/romedocuments/shakespeare_docs/venice_and_shakespeare.pdf>.
http://www.theworldeconomy.org/advances/advances2.html