Historical
Italy has had a lengthy history. It is located in the center of the Mediterranean trading routes, and so it has been used for military, expansion, and trade over the centuries. The following is a very brief history of Italy.
Italy’s history may be divided into seven eras: Pre-History There has been evidence of civilization on the Italian peninsula that dates back into pre-history. There have been thousands or rock drawings that have been discovered in the Alpine regions. The Roman Empire (5th Century BC to 5th Century AD) There is a legend that says that Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus in the heart of Etruscan Italy in 735 B.C. Rome then expanded its territories over the centuries into the Roman Empire. The Romans named the Italian peninsular “Italia.” Italy had flourished under the Roman Empire. The empire ended in 476AD with the death of Augustus, the emperor. After that, the Italian peninsular was divided into different kingdoms. Reunification was achieved in 1861. |
The Middle Ages (6th to 14th Century)
A brief history of Italy in the Middle Ages begins with a series of invasions:
The worst of the invasions was over by the end of the 11th century and then trade began to flourish again. There were four Italian cities (Genoa, Pisa, Amalfi, and Venice) that became the major political and commercial powers.
In the twelfth century, the Italian cities were ruled by the Holy Roman Empire. Northern Italy then became a group of independent kingdoms, republics, and city-states.
A brief history of Italy in the Middle Ages begins with a series of invasions:
- 493: An eastern Germanic tribe conquered the Italian peninsula.
- 568: This Gothic War then led to the Lombards (another Germanic tribe) establishing a kingdom in northern Italy and three regions in the South in 568. The popes began building an independent state.
- 756: When the French defeated the Lombards, they granted the popes authority over central Italy. The Papal States were then created.
- 962: The northern states of Lombardy, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont were ruled by the Germanic Holy Roman Empire from 962.
The worst of the invasions was over by the end of the 11th century and then trade began to flourish again. There were four Italian cities (Genoa, Pisa, Amalfi, and Venice) that became the major political and commercial powers.
In the twelfth century, the Italian cities were ruled by the Holy Roman Empire. Northern Italy then became a group of independent kingdoms, republics, and city-states.
The Renaissance (14th to 16th Century)
At this point, the disparity among the regions was extreme. The northern states were very prosperous, while central and southern Italy were economically depressed. Foreign powers controlled Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia.
The Italian Renaissance began in Tuscany in the 14th century; it was a cultural movement that spread from Florence to Siena.
Factors that contributed to its emergence:
This era gave rise to several artistic giants: Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarotti, Sandro Botticelli, Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarch were a few of them. The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1440s also contributed to a freer flow of information.
The Renaissance reached to southern Rome and it inspired the Italian popes to rebuild their city, and then Rome flourished once again. This movement also spread to Milan, Venice, and further north into Europe. It influenced art, philosophy, science, literature, politics, religion, and other intellectual areas.
Within Italy, the dominance of the Tuscan culture led to the Tuscan dialect later becoming the official Italian language.
At this point, the disparity among the regions was extreme. The northern states were very prosperous, while central and southern Italy were economically depressed. Foreign powers controlled Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia.
The Italian Renaissance began in Tuscany in the 14th century; it was a cultural movement that spread from Florence to Siena.
Factors that contributed to its emergence:
- the arrival of Greek scholars
- the patronage of the arts
This era gave rise to several artistic giants: Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarotti, Sandro Botticelli, Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarch were a few of them. The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1440s also contributed to a freer flow of information.
The Renaissance reached to southern Rome and it inspired the Italian popes to rebuild their city, and then Rome flourished once again. This movement also spread to Milan, Venice, and further north into Europe. It influenced art, philosophy, science, literature, politics, religion, and other intellectual areas.
Within Italy, the dominance of the Tuscan culture led to the Tuscan dialect later becoming the official Italian language.
Foreign Rule (1559 to 1814)
This era was a dark era that followed the pervious “golden era.”
By the end of the Italian Wars, three Italian republics regained their independence: Piedmont Savoy, Corsica-Genoa and Venice. Both Savoy and Corsica were later sold to France – Corsica in 1764 and Savoy in 1860.
By 1559 Spain controlled Milan, Naples, Sicily, Sardinia and southern Tuscany, and dominated the rulers of Tuscany, Genoa, and other smaller states in northern Italy. Spanish control of Italy lasted until 1713.
After the defeat of Napoleonic France in 1814, the Congress of Vienna divided Italy into eight parts, most under foreign rule: Parma, Modena and Tuscany were ruled by the Hapsburgs; Lombardy and Venetia were ruled by Austria; Piedmont-Sardinia-Genoa and the Papal States were independent; and Naples and Sicily were ruled by France. This condition was the force behind the Italian unification movement.
Unification (1814 to 1861)
This brief history of Italy reaches the climax in unification. The Risorgimento was a complex process that eventually unified the different states of the Italian peninsula into the modern nation of Italy. The movement began in 1815 with a growing resentment towards the peninsula's domination by Austria.
Two prominent figures in the unification movement:
Giuseppe Mazzini: native of Genoa; member of the Carbonari secret society
Giuseppe Garibaldi: member of the Carbonari secret society
Mazzini mounted a series of unsuccessful uprisings in Italy, but he eventually worked with Garibaldi to achieve unification.
Present Day Italy
Since unification, Italy has experienced a period that had a mass exodus of people as well as the disastrous consequences of two World Wars. Over the past 60 years, however, the country has reclaimed its position as a major social and cultural player in world affairs.
Italian goods and services have great international reputations, and Italy remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Italy has a positive economic growth and a high standard of living.
Italy was one of the founding members of the European Economic Community, and despite the turbulent nature of Italian politics, enjoys positive economic growth and a high standard of living.
This era was a dark era that followed the pervious “golden era.”
- 1494: France invaded northern Italy and man of the city-states collapsed
- 1527: Spain and Germany attacked Rome
- 1559- 1713: era of domination by Habsburg Spain
By the end of the Italian Wars, three Italian republics regained their independence: Piedmont Savoy, Corsica-Genoa and Venice. Both Savoy and Corsica were later sold to France – Corsica in 1764 and Savoy in 1860.
By 1559 Spain controlled Milan, Naples, Sicily, Sardinia and southern Tuscany, and dominated the rulers of Tuscany, Genoa, and other smaller states in northern Italy. Spanish control of Italy lasted until 1713.
- 1713-1796: domination by Habsburg Austria
- 1796-1814: Napoleonic era: Italy was briefly united by Napoleon as the Italian Republic and later the Kingdom of Italy, become a client state of the French Republic.
After the defeat of Napoleonic France in 1814, the Congress of Vienna divided Italy into eight parts, most under foreign rule: Parma, Modena and Tuscany were ruled by the Hapsburgs; Lombardy and Venetia were ruled by Austria; Piedmont-Sardinia-Genoa and the Papal States were independent; and Naples and Sicily were ruled by France. This condition was the force behind the Italian unification movement.
Unification (1814 to 1861)
This brief history of Italy reaches the climax in unification. The Risorgimento was a complex process that eventually unified the different states of the Italian peninsula into the modern nation of Italy. The movement began in 1815 with a growing resentment towards the peninsula's domination by Austria.
Two prominent figures in the unification movement:
Giuseppe Mazzini: native of Genoa; member of the Carbonari secret society
Giuseppe Garibaldi: member of the Carbonari secret society
Mazzini mounted a series of unsuccessful uprisings in Italy, but he eventually worked with Garibaldi to achieve unification.
- 1861: Italy was officially unified in 1861
- 1870: Rome, Latium, and the Trieste region were annexed
Present Day Italy
Since unification, Italy has experienced a period that had a mass exodus of people as well as the disastrous consequences of two World Wars. Over the past 60 years, however, the country has reclaimed its position as a major social and cultural player in world affairs.
Italian goods and services have great international reputations, and Italy remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Italy has a positive economic growth and a high standard of living.
Italy was one of the founding members of the European Economic Community, and despite the turbulent nature of Italian politics, enjoys positive economic growth and a high standard of living.