VenetianCrete

WHO WE ARE

We are an academic couple specializing in medieval and early modern Mediterranean history, with a focus on Venetian Crete.

MEET EMRE KAYMAKÇI

Emre Kaymakçı earned his PhD in Medieval History with titled “Crete under Venetian Rule (1204-1453)” in August 2024 and conducted a project on the administrative and military governance of Venetian Republic in Crete (1204-1453) at Ca’Foscari University between 2023 and 2024. He is a historian specializing in the social, economic, and environmental history of the Eastern Mediterranean, with a particular focus on Venetian Crete during the Late Middle Ages. His research explores how climate variability, maritime trade, and political power intersected in the Mediterranean world, shaping societies and economies between the 13th and 15th centuries.

Currently, He is developing a project that examines the socio-economic impact of the Little Ice Age (c. 1453–1571) on Venice and its colonial territories, particularly Crete. This study brings together archival sources—such as Venetian Senate deliberations, notarial records, and fiscal documents—with paleoclimatic data and narrative sources, including chronicles and travelers’ accounts. By combining environmental history with digital humanities tools such as GIS-based mapping, his aim is to reveal how climate-related challenges influenced agricultural production, trade networks, and adaptation strategies in one of the most influential maritime empires of the pre-modern world.

His broader research interests include cross-cultural interactions, Mediterranean maritime networks, and the relationship between climate and society in historical contexts. He is committed to interdisciplinary approaches that integrate historical, environmental, and digital methods, providing new perspectives on resilience and adaptation in pre-modern societies.

MEET HÜLYA ÇİÇEK KAYMAKÇI

Hülya Çiçek Kaymakçı earned her PhD in Early Modern History with titled “Crete under Venetian Rule (1453-1669)” in July 2025 and she also conducted a project on Venetian Perspective on Crete and Turkish Perception after the Cyprus War at Ca’Foscari University between 2023 and 2024. Her research interests include maritime trade, and socio-economic networks in the Eastern Mediterranean.

VenetianCrete is a digital platform dedicated to exploring the rich history of Crete under Venetian rule (1204-1669). Founded by historians Dr. Emre Kaymakçı and Hülya Çiçek Kaymakçı, the platform combines archival research, historical narratives, and visual storytelling to make the island’s past accessible to both scholars and history enthusiasts. Our mission is to bridge academic research with public history, offering insights into the political, social, economic, and cultural life of Venetian Crete. Through detailed studies of archival sources from the Venetian State Archive, chronicles and maps, we aim to shed light on how this Mediterranean crossroads connected Venice to the wider world.

Here, you will find:

• Articles and essays based on original archival research
• Analyses of trade, climate, and society in the medieval and early modern Mediterranean.
• Visual resources, including maps, timelines, and digital reconstructions
• Updates on ongoing research projects and academic publications

Whether you are a student, researcher, or simply fascinated by Mediterranean history, VenetianCrete invites you discover the strories, challenges, and legacies of this remarkable island during its Venetian centuries.