Italy
Venice
Venice in the 15th Century
1404 Venice moves definitively onto the mainland by occupying Verona (1405). Occupation of Friuli 1419-1420. 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.
1463-1479 Venice fights Ottoman expansion almost alone.
1482-1484 Venice makes war on Ferrara, but other cities opposed her and the attempt fails.