The Venetians were petering out by the 17th century as a naval and mercantile power. I'm wondering, though, why they didn't have any interest in transoceanic colonization. They had lost most of their Mediterranean possessions, why not expand in a different direction?
I know part of that was their merchant and naval fleets, but then again, looking around at Spain, the Dutch, etc., why not start building more modern, ocean-going ships? My theory is they weren't *needed* on the relatively calm Mediterranean, but I don't understand the stagnation in naval design or trade opportunities.
Theories appreciated. :^)