User blog comment:Eastward Expansion/Advanced World/@comment-1988424-20100726003452

Well, because colonialism starts much sooner, Genoa and Venice both become powerful colonial empires! They keep strong hatreds towards each other, and several times throughout the centuries they raze each others capitals. If you look in Central and South America, you'll see lots of Genoese and Venetian (Italian splits into two languages) names!