Let me preface this by stating the "Serene Republic of Venice" was mighty, powerful, changed the western world and remained sovereign for over a millennium. Of this, there is no dispute from me.
However, I believe that Venice as a Civilization, on par with Russia, Persia, China and the like, is a tad far-fetched. A vast majority of the Civs already implemented are essentially ethnically similar, as well as being mostly land empires. Whilst Venice was a potent medieval force, they were an amalgamation of many different ethnicity, and virtually all of the Republic overseas territory was separated by vast territory of water. A Civ including Greeks, Slavs, Turks and Italians, is not one that I think makes sense.
Aside from the fact that a vast majority of the Venetian cities are already in game (Sparta, Ragusa, Thessaloniki, Adrianopolis, etc), I believe that although Venice was a stalwart European nation, that it does not fit certain, aforementioned criteria to be placed with the likes of currently implemented Civs. Because of all the stated reasons, I believe Venice should best be left a City-State.
However, I believe that Venice as a Civilization, on par with Russia, Persia, China and the like, is a tad far-fetched. A vast majority of the Civs already implemented are essentially ethnically similar, as well as being mostly land empires. Whilst Venice was a potent medieval force, they were an amalgamation of many different ethnicity, and virtually all of the Republic overseas territory was separated by vast territory of water. A Civ including Greeks, Slavs, Turks and Italians, is not one that I think makes sense.
Aside from the fact that a vast majority of the Venetian cities are already in game (Sparta, Ragusa, Thessaloniki, Adrianopolis, etc), I believe that although Venice was a stalwart European nation, that it does not fit certain, aforementioned criteria to be placed with the likes of currently implemented Civs. Because of all the stated reasons, I believe Venice should best be left a City-State.