Table of Contents:
THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
FALL OF THE EMPIRE.
MEDIEVAL AGES.
WELCOME TO THE RENNAISSANCE.
NAPOLEON I – PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
MAKING A COUNTRY.
FITTING THE LAST PIECES.
SUMMARY
Put all of Italy’s history in a paragraph? I doubt a chapter will do it justice. The following will only scratch the surface.
Ancient Italian History
Somewhere around 1200 BC., you have the Etruscans, Latins, Sabines, and other tribes starting to make their way over the Alps from the north. They start setting up shop in today’s Tuscany, the western area of Umbria, and northern Lazio. They are farmers, fighters, and lovers.
For the next 400+ years, they continue to spread southward into central Italy.
Around 800 BC., at the southern end of the peninsula, Phoenicians and Carthaginians are landing by boat and discovering the southern shores. Likewise,
they begin to spread northward.
At this time, Italia only refers to the southern tip of the peninsula.
Around 750 (still BC), there is a village on a hill with the name Palatine. It has several surrounding communities below it trying to eke out a living.
They need to optimize their strengths, so they join together and become a town.
Today it is still an active population center; we call Rome. The building does not take place in one day.
Other Thoughts on the Subject.
In contrast, another camp believes that the Trojan prince Aeneas, and a battle over a damsel in distress led to Rome’s founding.
Then some believe a she-wolf is a significant character in Italian history…
The Roman Republic.
Fast forward to 509 BC., Rome has grown in size and took control of the peninsula.
Now we have the Roman Republic. In historical terms, this is the classical period in Italy’s history.
For the next 480 years, the Roman Republic acquires real estate. It collects A LOT of property. This portfolio includes Greece, France, and most of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Then in 50 BC, the foundations of the Republic begin to crack. You have civil wars, emperors with a “me” attitude, and assassinations on the way to the forum. All these forces bring an end to the Republic.
Looking for something new, in 27 BC., the Senate grants Octavian the title, Emperor Augustus. He is the current golden child after defeating Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. And we have the start of the Roman Empire.
This move might be a milestone in the history of Italy.
The Roman Empire.
It is a period of civil unrest. Rebel spaceships striking from a, WOOPS, that’s a different Empire.
Possibly surprising but, the beginning of the Roman empire is a period of political stability and prosperity. Italian history calls it the Pax Romana. It sees good times and bum times.
The rise of Caligula (37 AD.) is not good. The assassination of Caligula (41 AD.) is not awful. The ascension of Nero (54 AD.) another dark day. His death (68 AD.), gray skies are going to clear up.
Mt. Vesuvius erupting (79 AD.). While not a great day to be living in Pompeii, it is an excellent day for 21st-century tourism.
The Colosseum is constructed (80 AD.). This arena is not such good news for lions and tigers and Christians (oh my), but it will also boost 21st-century tourism.
The Golden Age.
The empire grows and has incredible prosperity. By the time of Trajan (98 – 117 AD.), It lays claim to almost 2 million square miles. This period will be the largest the empire reaches.
Also, it oversees an estimated 70 million people. In those days, that’s 1/5th of the world’s entire population.
Then, not learning from its history, the empire begins to slide the slippery slope to destruction. Abuses of power, civil wars, etc. etc. etc. lead to instability of the leaders and a split between the citizens.
A New Approach.
Here’s an idea. Let’s get a new Emperor to solve all the problems. So, on the death of his father, Constantine the Great becomes the senior western emperor in 306 AD.
And it works for a while. Constantine begins financial, social, administrative, and military reforms to overhaul the empire. He separates civil and military leadership and sets up a currency based on gold. Wonder why no one else ever thought of that…
Also, in 313 AD., he takes part in the signing of the Edict of Milan. This document gives Christianity a legal standing. It
does not make it the official religion of the empire. That will not happen for another 260+ years during the rule of Emperor Theodosius.
A Rise in the East, A Fall in the West.
Finally, in 324 AD. Constantine defeats the last of the rebelling factions in the east and becomes the sole ruler of all the empire.
To keep an eye on both the West and the east, in 330 AD., he establishes a second capital in Byzantium (Istanbul). It is famous for its strategic location. At the time, It did seem like a great idea.
Italian history now shows us; it was the beginning of the end of the western Roman empire in Italy.
476 AD. With resources spread between two capitals, the West’s realm can no longer defend itself and falls to Germanic forces.
During the fourth crusade, the Pope’s armies sack Constantinople, mistaking it for Jerusalem. (That’s their story.)
The Eastern Empire (today is known as the Byzantine Empire), holds on until 1453 with the overthrow of the Ottomans.
Dark Ages in Italian history
6th – 9th century. On the local scene, internally, it is the villages against another village. From the outside, you have pecking from the Frankish Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the Muslims.
How do we fix this? I know, elect a new Emperor. However, this time, there is a twist. In 800 AD, the Pope crowns the Frankish king Charlemagne as Emperor of the newly established Holy Roman Empire. Claiming a significant portion of the (still existing) Roman Empire, it covers most Central and parts of Western Europe.
This appointing will go down as one of “those days” in Italian history. Soon there is feuding between the Pope and the emperor.
Medieval Ages in Italian history
10th – 13th century. On the local scene, villages find strength in numbers and begin forming city-states. So, on the local scene, it was a city-state against city-state.
At the same time, the Papacy, Byzantine, and Frank empires are battling over control of the region.
During the anarchy at the higher levels, several city-states begin taking control of their own rule. Venice, Milan, Genoa, Pisa, Florence, Siena, and many others become extremely powerful. They outgrow the authority of the Popes and Emperors.
13th – early 14th century. The Kingdom of Sicily (southern part of the peninsula and Sicily) is under the rule of Aragon, later Spain.
As a global cooling period begins around 1340, some crops in the north start to fail or produce less. This lower production leads to food shortages.
As if shortages are not enough, the Black Plague sweeps into the Eastern Mediterranean ports and quickly spreads to the western edge of Europe.
Recording of deaths in those days was minimal, but it is possible that within four years from its start in 1347, it claims half of Europe’s people.
But there is some “good?” news. With half the population gone, there are no longer food shortages and more jobs to fill. Europe begins a period of prosperity.
Welcome to the Renaissance.
Late 14th – 16th Century. Europe is emerging from the medieval period and looking for something new. Goods and ideas from abroad are arriving at ports all along the Mediterranian. These become the gateways for the Renaissance.
The city and the Papal States, the Holy Roman and Ottoman Empires continue to battle each other for land and power.
As this is not enough upheaval, let’s add a separate war(s) between the Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and the Calvins, all just loving the heck out of their neighbors. These religious wars will last until 1648.
Also, during this time, something took place that would end the market domination by Mediterranean city-states. In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
Power and Market shift.
17th Century – Pretty much continues where we left off. There are more power struggles, more religious wars, and an invasion by the Ottomans. Finally, in 1648, an agreeable solution is found with the signing of the Peace of Westphalia. In actuality, it is the beginning of the decline of the Papacy influence in Europe.
1621, the Dutch begin importing goods from the new world (West Indies). The French and Danish are right behind them. The Mediterranean ports quickly lose their monopoly on trade.
18th Century – Not learning from the 17th Century, Europe continues on the same political and financial paths. By 1720, most of today’s Italy is in the hands of the Austrian House of Habsburg. Elsewhere, the Baroque music, architecture, and art continue to spin out of control.
In response, by the end of the 1700s, the Neoclassical movement (a return to classical design), begins to rebalance the arts.
Napoleon I – Putting it together.
18th century. Starting in 1796, the Holy Roman Empire has a new threat. His name is Napoleon.
He sets up two states between the Alps in the north and the Bay of Naples in the south. In 1802 he changed this to the Italian Republic. Not since ancient times has any part of the peninsula had Italy in its name.
In 1805 he changed the name to the Kingdom of Italy and appointed himself king.
The Last Roman Empire.
1806, the Holy Roman Empire comes to an end after a defeat to Napoleon. The Venetian Territories come under the Kingdom of Italy.
Although a dependency of France, Napoleon gives the new kingdom its currency. In 1807 the lira was first printed.
With each new conquest by Napoleon, the Kingdom of Italy benefits. It continues to acquire more land until 1814 when Napoleon abdicates.
And two steps back.
The Congress of Vienna in 1815 leaves the Kingdom of Italy looking like a puzzle a few pieces short. (We will see this in Italian history more than once).
Austria receives a large part of the peninsula.
The Kingdom of Sardinia gets Piedmont and Genoa.
The middle section goes to the Papal States.
The Kingdom of the Two Sicily’s occupies the southern half of the peninsula and the island of Sicily.
Tuscany, Parma, and Modena, which are dutchies, keep their own rule.
By 1848, the locals are pretty much over their ruling by other countries. Civil disobedience and non-violent revolts lead to temporary constitutions to appease them. But these band-aids will not last for long.
Italian First War of Independence.
The First War of Italian Independence breaks out in March 1848. Unfortunately, the Patriots do not ban together with others, and their defeat is quick. Also, in the beginning, the Pope is lending his support. That quickly disappears when he sees which way the tide is turning. By the summer of 1949, the war is over.
The Patriots reorganize and realize they need an ally (with an army) to kick Austria out.
Also, it is obvious the Pope is not their friend and could not lead the new country.
They also realize that Republicanism is not going to work. If they want to succeed, they need to band together as a kingdom. They partner with King Victor Emmanuel II and his Kingdom of Sardinia.
Napoleon III – Putting Italy (back) together.
In 1853, the Crimean war broke out between Russia and the alliance of Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire.
Sardinia joins on the side of France. For helping France in this battle, Sardinia finds the ally it is seeking. He is Napoleon III.
Italian Second War of Independence.
Sardinia, now with backing, provokes Austria. April 1859, and we are into the Second Italian War of Independence.
The French and the Sardinian Army together go against the Austrian army being lead by Emperor Franz Joseph I.
It is over less than three months later. The winning side gets what they want. France, a defeat over Austria, and Sardinia will receive Lombardy.
1860 Italy.
By 1860, only five states are remaining in the area that will become modern-day Italy.
- The Kingdom of Sardinia.
- Austria still has the area of Venetia.
- In the middle, there is the Papal States.
- Hidden in the east is the small area of San Marino.
- In the Southern part of the peninsula, you have the Kingdom of the Two Sicily’s. The Kingdom of Naples on the mainland, and the Kingdom of Sicily island.
Giuseppe Garibaldi representing the Kingdom of Sardinia, sets out in May of 1860 to reduce those numbers. With a group of volunteers, he lands on Sicily. They do not encounter too much opposition, and by July, he proclaims himself the dictator of Sicily, as a representative of King Victor Emmanuel II.
He next sails to the mainland and, in quick order, has the Kingdom of Naples in the bag.
Then there were Four…
How to Assemble a Country.
1861 – Turns out to be a big year in Italian history. Starting in February, Victor Emmanuel II assembles the first Italian Parliament in Turin.
Second, Parliament proclaims Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy. Italy is born.
They also declare Rome the Capital of Italy, even though it is still part of the Papal States.
1866 – War breaks out between Austria and Prussia. The Kingdom of Italy sides with Prussia.
Otto von Bismarck, the president of Prussia, gets what he wants, power over Austria. Within seven weeks, they sign an armistice. The Kingdom of Italy’s part has been small and not too successful. However, Bismark gives it Venetia.
1870 – The Franco Prussian war breaks out in August. Napoleon III is losing and needs more troops. He pulls the last garrison from Rome, who is guarding the Papal State.
A month later, Napoleon III becomes a prisoner during the battle of Sedan.
With Napoleon out of commission, Emmanuel no longer feels he has to respect the borders of the Papal States.
Italians take control.
Overnight, the Italian army marches on Rome. Pope Pius IX is not going down without a fight.
The following day the army breaches the city walls and enters Rome. Hence, the city and the surrounding area become part of the kingdom of Italy.
The Pope retains the Vatican City.
In 1871, they moved the capital of Italy to Rome.
San Marino.
Side history, San Marino supports Garibaldi during the unification period. They tell him they wish to remain independent. He says, OK.
It remains neutral through both World Wars but not without damage. Today, it remains the world’s smallest Republic.
Fitting the Last Pieces.
1915 – and there is another war. Maybe it will end all wars. Italy sided with the Allies going against Germany and Austria. For this, they will receive the remaining areas around Venice. Also, they will get sections of current-day Croatia.
The war ended in 1918, and Italy gets the areas around Venice, but not the parts of Croatia.
1922 – King Victor Emmanuel III appoints Mussolini as prime minister in an attempt to keep the peace.
At the same time, Mussolini imposes fascism. NOT a good day in Italian history.
World War II
1939 – Nazi Germany invades Poland. War II begins.
The following year, Mussolini declares war on France and England. He is hoping to scoop up their lands in Africa for Italy’s expansion. With the Germans already in France, he expects a quick end to the war and significant rewards of land.
1943 – July, Emmanuel puts Mussolini in jail. They quickly sign a truce with the Allied forces, but Germany’s occupation of Italy is too complete.
Next, Italy tries declaring war on Germany in the fall of 1943. Germany will not surrender Italy until May of 1945.
1946 – Due to their inability to fully support the Allies, Italy loses all its overseas possessions.
At the same time, 54% of Italians voted to abolish the monarchy. The royal family must live outside Italian borders.
For this reason, picking a Constituent Assembly to create an Italian constitution becomes necessary.
Post War Italian History.
1948 – The constitution is written and goes into effect. Next, Parliamentary elections take place. And they all live happily ever after.
Italian History Summary.
So, do you still think you can do Italy in a week?
Let me add. Italy has 53 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are the leading country for sites on the World Heritage List.
I promise it would take more than a week to see those.