THE PRESENT VOLUME UNITES MOST OF THE ESSAYS THAT REINHOLD C. MUELLER HAS DEDICATED TO LATE MEDIEVAL VENICE. MUELLER LEADS US FROM THE VAST CHAMBERS OF THE DUCAL PALACE TO THE FOCAL POINTS OF TRADE AND FINANCE IN ONE OF THE GREATEST ECONOMIC CENTERS IN BOTH EUROPE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN. HIS PONDERED ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND OF THE MEN CONDUCTING IT CREATES A FRESCO WHEREIN WE MAY OBSERVE AND UNDERSTAND WITH GREAT LUCIDITY THE COMPLEXITY OF VENICE, BOTH CITY AND STATE.