Board Thread:Timeline Discussions/@comment-4923787-20130202175501/@comment-32656-20130414090306

It was named for the Venetian tribe, present in that area long before Rome conquered Italy.

Brianza is an option for a name.

China was never really out of contact with the West - the remained at a low level of contact for centuries, but they never left it.

Hong Xiuquan would not exist. Nor would the Qing be likely to gain power.