"[The Arsenal of Venice's work force] continually produced new innovations for the Venetian fleet."
Gregory Sheridan, The Imperial Age of Venice (1970)
The division of labor into many discrete tasks in a production line increased efficiency and output and enabled the mass production of high quality goods. Nowhere was this better exemplified than in the Venice Arsenal factory, where standardized parts and specialized tasks gave the Venetians a speed advantage in building warships, firearms, and, as a result, their empire.
In 1574, King Henry III of England had the privilege of seeing this formidable first factory construct complete galley ships in less than a day. With their efficient and organized approach, the Arsenal's thousands of workers manufactured complicated war tools 600 years before the start of the Industrial Revolution. The arsenal was expanded on several occasions throughout its lifetime but was originally built as a shipyard in 1104. By 1320, the workers carried out specialized tasks in the production of ships. At its peak, the Arsenal employed around 16,000 people, the largest workforce in Europe. After Venice was annexed by Italy in 1875-1878, the Arsenal underwent further expansion. During the late 1800s it was the site of construction for several of the Italian Navy's most powerful ships.
