Italy
Venice in the 15th Century
The fifteenth century was pivotal for the Serene Republic, for this was when the city moved definitively onto the mainland, the terraferma. Many have viewed this as a strategic mistake, but it certainly looked like a smart move at the time. For good or ill, though, it involved Venice directly in the vicious and extended fighting that dominated the history of Italy in this century and well into the sixteenth century.
The initial move came in 1405 when Venice occupied Verona. This was followed by occupation of Friuli (1419-1420) to the east. Venice's "empire" differed significantly from that of Milan or Florence, though, in that Venice was not interested in controlling the internal affairs of the towns on the terraferma. She controlled foreign affairs and trade, which is more or less how she treated her overseas holdings as well. The new acquisitions did provide new offices and opportunities for her ruling classes. In fact, a new council was created in 1422, the savi di terraferma, specifically to deal with affairs on the mainland.
Venetian influence in northeastern Italy was significant and long-lasting. One can still see the lion of St Mark on buildings all over the region. One of the districts of modern Italy is still called the Veneto. And many of the grand villas along the Brenta River and elsewhere were originally built as summer homes for Venetian nobility.
1463-1479 Venice fights Ottoman expansion almost alone.
1482-1484 Venice makes war on Ferrara, but other cities opposed her and the attempt fails.