Preveza was strategically important for Venice. It was on the border with the Ottoman Empire. Its port provided safety for a large number of ships. There were extensive forests that produced good quality timber and the surrounding plains were fertile and yielded excellent quality olive oil. Large quantities of grain were exported through Preveza. Most people were fishermen, sailors, and farmers. There were also numerous outlaws who sought refuge in Preveza from the Ottoman authorities. The Venetians paid close attention to the town’s fortifications, repairing and upgrading old forts.