Interesting Fact

From Salt: a World History by Mark Kurlansky

The Italian mainland was originally much farther away from the islands that are now the city of Venice. The area between these islands and the peninsula of Comacchio was called the Seven Seas. "To sail the seven seas" meant simply sailing the Seven Seas -- accomplishing the daunting task of navigating past the sandbars of those treacherous twenty-five miles.

About A.D. 600, Venitians started using landfill to extend the mainland closer to the islands of modern-day Venice.

This is a fascinating read. Between this, Nathaniel's Nutmeg, and Krakatoa (which I'm in the process of listening to), I'm learning a ton about the spice trade. Very interesting stuff!