Committee Description

The year is 1350. The Black Plague has swept through Europe, leaving devastation in its wake. In the Mediterranean, the scars of the pandemic are fresh, but the wheels of history continue to turn. Amidst crumbling populations and widespread grief, two maritime republics, Venice and Genoa, stand at a crossroads. Long-standing rivals in commerce and sea power, the two city-states now find themselves on the brink of all-out war. As tensions rise in the East and trade routes become battlegrounds, war threatens not just wealth, but survival.

The consequences of this conflict ripple across the region. With vital trading posts in the Levant, North Africa, and the Black Sea, both republics are deeply entangled in a fragile web of alliances and rivalries. The plague has crippled labor forces, undermined economies, and weakened city defenses, yet the thirst for power persists. As swords are drawn and fleets set sail, leaders must weigh the cost of war against the need for dominance in the Mediterranean.

At the same time, a new cultural force is beginning to stir. In the ashes of tragedy, seeds of rebirth take root. Wealthy merchants and powerful families begin investing in art, learning, and philosophy, laying the foundations for what will become the Renaissance. Patronage becomes a tool of influence and legacy; paintings, sculptures, and public works now shape political power as much as armies do.

Venice and Genoa must now grapple with far more than military tactics. The health of their cities, the stability of their economies, and the loyalty of allies are all on the line. Decisions about trade, religion, culture, and war will determine whether these republics thrive or fall. As the old world collapses and a new one begins to form, you will decide the future. Will you lead your city to greatness through strength, diplomacy, or patronage?

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rian Reichel at crisis@ssuns.org

James Stauder

Chair

Cole Herman

Crisis Director

Fiorella Medina Scarone

Vice Chair

Maria Zen-Baxter

Coordinating Crisis Director

Ethan Chen

Vice Chair

Sabrina Morelli

Assistant Crisis Director

Hana Tomoum

Chair

Gano Carlyle

Crisis Director

Eloise Barriault

Vice Chair

De-Ren Jhou

Assistant Crisis Director

Arthur Moquay

Vice Chair