There were several city-states in the area of Veneto during the Middle Ages. Venice, Verona, Vicenza, Treviso and Padua were important economic and trade centers. However, after defeating the Dalmatians in the 11th century, Venice rose to become the main sea power.
Venice engaged in several wars of conquest, most often carried out by hired mercenaries. The Venetian Republic came to control parts of Greece and Turkey. With the rise of the Ottomans, Venice turned its attention to the mainland, conquering Treviso, then Verona in 1404 and Padua in 1405. Venetians eventually conquered areas as far as Lombardy and Apulia. The Venetian expansion could not be contained until the end of the 16th century.