The Last Judgment is believed to be from the early 14th century Venetian Republic. The Republic of Venice lasted from 697 to 1797 reaching the height of its power during the middle ages and renaissance. First established as a province of the Byzantine empire, the Republic of Venice grew prosperous through trading networks due to its location in relation to the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. In its early years the Republic prospered on the salt trade. Eventually the Venetian Republic would go on to dominate trade along the Mediterranean sea between Europe, North Africa, and

The Venetian Republic played a very important role in the crusades. Especially the 4th Crusade. In the 14th Century, the Holy league of 1332 was founded as a military alliance between the chief Christian states of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas in order to combat growing Islamic powers. Around this same time of growing military and religious tensions was the beginning of the Renaissance. The period known as the Proto-Renaissance lasted from the years 1250-1500 and served as a transitional period from the late middle ages. It was in the Renaissance period that Italian painters began to flourish.