When John came to power he realized the most dangerous threat to the empire did not come from without, but it came from within. It was the bad trade deals set up by his father, that allowed Latin merchants to control the imperial navy as well as trade without taxation. This transferred an incredible amount of power and wealth from the Greeks, to the Latins. When John tried to sever the deal and tax the Venetian merchants, all hell broke loose, and the Venetians ravaged the coastal Greek towns.
The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the Greek people's events from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, through to the Greco-Turkish War from 1919 to 1922 to the present day.
Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.com
Music by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.com
Check out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com