Rome equivalent built on the site of Venice/Mestre

[Krases]

Given a POD of 600 BC or later, how could the Venetian lagoon become the center of a Mediterranean-spanning empire?

Assuming an early enough point of departure, how would the city of Rome (or an equivalent city/empire) be different if it had been built on the site of Mestre and Venice? Lets assume the main city is built in Metre along the shoreline and later expands out into the lagoon.

What advantages would this location offer for its capital?

Disadvantages:

-The city is now closer to the 'barbarians' of eastern Europe and could be attacked more often, requiring more economic resources for defense.
- The city is much more closed off to the western Mediterranean. More so than OTL Rome is cut off from the eastern Mediterranean.
- Much less central location in Italy.
-No major river flowing through the city center.
-Less ease of access to prime farmland.
-If the city expands out to where Venice is today, the islands could sink earlier in the cities history.

Advantages:

-Much better ocean access.
-Potential for major canal system integrated with the lagoon.
-Parts of the city would be much easier to defend if built right up against the lagoon or in the lagoon.
-Visigoths can't swim (a little known fact).

Thanks to Herzen's love-child for helping me phrase this question better.

 

[Herzen's love-child]

Also meaning that you want the empire and its capital to be in Classical times and not just another OTL Venetian state. Right?

 

[Krases]

Also meaning that you want the empire and its capital to be in Classical times and not just another OTL Venetian state. Right?

Yes, assume that this is a Rome equivalent built in the area that later became Venice. So this is set in classical times.

 

[SlyDessertFox]

Well the only reason Venice was built was because they fled Ravenna...so you might wanna give them a reason not to choose Ravenna instead.

 

[Emperor Constantine]

Well the only reason Venice was built was because they fled Ravenna...so you might wanna give them a reason not to choose Ravenna instead.

Maybe instead of OTL's Rome being built on Venice make it someone else's city/colony, like a different version of Carthage?

 

[Tobit]

It would probably have been founded by the Illyrians or Gauls if it is so far north. Which would mean totally different cultural influences than Latium. Definitely much less Etruscan influence, while it could have a stronger Greek influence since they would probably trade in that region.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

The Etruscans, did they live there? You have a potential power.

 

[Tobit]

The Etruscans, did they live there? You have a potential power.

The Etruscans were major civilizers of the region and didn't cross into the Venetian areas, so the Venetians remained pretty uncivilized. I think the Etruscans preferred to found cities on hills so Mestre/Venice doesn't really fit their normal territories.

 

[Herzen's love-child]

Really, given the terrain, it was really suited as a place to get away from rapacious gangs of Huns and Germanic types. Hence it first real settlement (that is known) by refugees from the breakdown of security in N.Italy in the 5th Century.
Earlier than this, maybe a city founded by an early maritime people. Pirates who settle down, maybe? Think of a Classical era version of the Normans...

 

[Krases]

The Etruscans were major civilizers of the region and didn't cross into the Venetian areas, so the Venetians remained pretty uncivilized. I think the Etruscans preferred to found cities on hills so Mestre/Venice doesn't really fit their normal territories.

Really, given the terrain, it was really suited as a place to get away from rapacious gangs of Huns and Germanic types. Hence it first real settlement (that is known) by refugees from the breakdown of security in N.Italy in the 5th Century.
Earlier than this, maybe a city founded by an early maritime people. Pirates who settle down, maybe? Think of a Classical era version of the Normans...

The Etruscans were really close to Venice, its really the fact that there are few good hills in the area that is the real problem.

So I think the pirate idea is a good one, my understanding is that classical era pirates were really very different than the 16th century pirates modern movies portray. They were really more like small civilizations that raided shipping and coastal regions.

So perhaps a decent sized town is built in Venice (think 2-4k people) and it gets conquered by the Etruscians who choose to develop it into a larger town instead of destroying it.