Ah - Webster Tarpley. Kind of nutty, lots of conspiracies, but some good information nevertheless.

That said, the (very long) history of the Venetian Republic is both fascinating and important. The city of Venice (in the lagoon) is built entirely on wooden piles - astonishing both for the engineering and effort involved. Both words bank and ghetto are from Venice. Etc. Bank was originally a banca or bench on which proto-bankers or money lenders or whatever would sit.