The Arsenale occupied a 24-hectare complex on Venice's eastern end, enclosed by tall defensive walls and containing drydocks, wet docks, forges, and workshops. Established in 1104, the Arsenale produced warships, merchant vessels, armor, weapons, artillery, rigging, sails, and all materials required for naval upkeep. Ship construction followed an assembly-line system with keels laid and hulls floated from shed to shed as artisans advanced the build. The state-controlled factory standardized components and stored supplies on-site. The Arsenale supported Venice's trade networks to Egypt, Syria, and connections to the Silk Road, underpinning Venetian sea power and economic wealth.
The immense commercial trade, wealth, and sea power of the Republic of Venice was rooted in the ships built in the industrial site known as the Arsenale, or arsenal. It was first established in 1104 and continued building warships, merchant ships, armor, crossbows, catapults, weapons, and artillery for eight centuries. The 24-hectare (60-acre) site spans water and land on the eastern end of the city and is surrounded by 15-meter (50 ft) tall defensive walls enclosing drydocks, wet docks, forges, and workshops.
Behind its brick walls were workshops and docks where everything needed to maintain a maritime force was standardized and stored on-site. All materials were produced there: nails, pitch, caulk, rope, rigging, sails, oars, keels, decks, and masts, along with weapons including armor, swords, lances, gunpowder, pistols, mortars, and artillery.
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