See Also

Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic , is a Southern European Southern Europe

Southern Europe is a region [i] of the Europe [i]an continent [i]. ... 

 country. It comprises the Po River Po River

The Po is a river that flows 652 kilometers eastward across northern Italy [i], from Monviso [i] to t ... 

 valley, the Italian Peninsula Italian Peninsula

The Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula is one of the greatest peninsula [i]s of Europe [i], s ... 

 and the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor ... 

, Sicily Sicily

Sicily is an autonomous region [i] of Italy [i] and the larges ... 

 and Sardinia Sardinia

Sardinia At the beginning of the nuragic [i] age circa 1500 BC [i] the island was first called Hyknus ... 

. It is shaped like a boot and for this reason Italians commonly call it "lo stivale" . The Italian Republic shares its northern alpine Alps

The Alps is the name for one of the great mountain range [i] systems of Europe [i], stretching from Austria [i] ... 

 boundary with France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

, Switzerland Switzerland

Switzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked [i] Alpine country [i] in Central Europe [i] ... 

, Austria Austria

Austria is a landlocked [i] country in central Europe [i]. ... 

 and Slovenia Slovenia

Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a coastal Alpine country [i] i ... 

. The country also shares a sea border with Croatia Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a country in Europe [i], at the crossroads of th ... 

, Slovenia and France. The independent countries of San Marino San Marino

The Most Serene Republic [i] of San Marino is the third smallest nation in Europe . ... 

 and the Vatican City Vatican City

Vatican City formally State of the Vatican City, or Vatican City State is a sovereign [i] ... 

 are enclave Enclave and exclave

In political geography [i], an enclave is a country or part of a country lying wholly within the boundar ... 

s within Italian territory.

Discussions

  Discussion Features

   Ask a question about 'Italy'

   Start a new discussion about 'Italy'

   Answer questions about 'Italy'

   'Italy' discussion forum

Timeline

1000 BC   Latins come to Italy from the Danube Danube

The Danube is the longest river [i] of the European Union [i] and Europe [i]'s second-longest . ... 

 region.

218 BC   Hannibal Hannibal Barca

Hannibal Barca was a Punic [i] military commander and politician [i], later also working in ot ... 

 crosses the Alps Alps

The Alps is the name for one of the great mountain range [i] systems of Europe [i], stretching from Austria [i] ... 

 and invades Italy.

82   Dio Chrysostom is banished from Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

, Italy, and Bithynia Bithynia

Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor [i], adjoining ... 

 after advising one of the Emperor's conspiring relatives.

100   Trajan Trajan

Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus , Roman Emperor [i] , commonly called , was the second of th ... 

 creates a policy intended to restore the former economic supremacy of Italy.

193   Before entering Rome, Severus avenges the death of Pertinax by disarming and sacking the Praetorian guard. Prior to this, the Praetorian guard was staffed with recruits from Italy, from now on it will be staffed by members drawn from the provincial legions Roman legion

The Roman legion was the basic military unit of the ancient Roman [i] army [i]. ... 

.

273   Administrative reorganization of Italy. Aurelian adopts as permanent the reforms instituted by Caracalla Caracalla

Caracalla was Roman Emperor [i] from 211 [i]–217 [i]. ... 

.

307   Galerius Galerius

Galerius Maximianus, formally Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus, Roman Emperor [i] from 305 [i] t ... 

 unsuccessfully invades Italy and names Licinius Licinius

Flavius [i] Galerius Valerius [i] Licinianus Licinius was Roman emperor [i] from 308 to 324 [i]... 

 as Augustus.

400   First invasion of Italy by Alaric Alaric I

Alaric I , who was likely born about 370 [i] on an island named Peuce [i] at the mouth of ... 

 (probable date).

401   The Visigoths Visigoth

The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths [i], an East Germanic tribe [i] . ... 

 begin to attack the northernmost reaches of Italy, causing destruction in the countryside.

403   Alaric I Alaric I

Alaric I , who was likely born about 370 [i] on an island named Peuce [i] at the mouth of ... 

 leaves Italy after his first unsuccessful invasion.

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia

Italy, officially the Italian Republic , is a Southern European Southern Europe

Southern Europe is a region [i] of the Europe [i]an continent [i]. ... 

 country. It comprises the Po River Po River

The Po is a river that flows 652 kilometers eastward across northern Italy [i], from Monviso [i] to t ... 

 valley, the Italian Peninsula Italian Peninsula

The Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula is one of the greatest peninsula [i]s of Europe [i], s ... 

 and the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor... 

, Sicily Sicily

Sicily is an autonomous region [i] of Italy [i] and the larges ... 

 and Sardinia Sardinia

Sardinia At the beginning of the nuragic [i] age circa 1500 BC [i] the island was first called Hyknus ... 

. It is shaped like a boot and for this reason Italians commonly call it "lo stivale" .

The Italian Republic shares its northern alpine Alps

The Alps is the name for one of the great mountain range [i] systems of Europe [i], stretching from Austria [i] ... 

 boundary with France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

, Switzerland Switzerland

Switzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked [i] Alpine country [i] in Central Europe [i] ... 

, Austria Austria

Austria is a landlocked [i] country in central Europe [i]. ... 

 and Slovenia Slovenia

Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a coastal Alpine country [i] i ... 

. The country also shares a sea border with Croatia Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a country in Europe [i], at the crossroads of th ... 

, Slovenia and France. The independent countries of San Marino San Marino

The Most Serene Republic [i] of San Marino is the third smallest nation in Europe . ... 

 and the Vatican City Vatican City

Vatican City formally State of the Vatican City, or Vatican City State is a sovereign [i] ... 

 are enclave Enclave and exclave

In political geography [i], an enclave is a country or part of a country lying wholly within the boundar ... 

s within Italian territory. Also belonging to the republic is the commune of Campione d'Italia Campione d'Italia

Campione d'Italia is an Italian [i] town and commune of Lombardy [i], occupying an enclave [i] wit ... 

, an enclave Enclave and exclave

In political geography [i], an enclave is a country or part of a country lying wholly within the boundar ... 

 in the territory of the Italian Switzerland Switzerland

Switzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked [i] Alpine country [i] in Central Europe [i] ... 

. The Republic includes only the 92% of Italian physical region, delimited conventionally by the alpine watershed; besides the above-mentioned enclaves, the following territories do not belong to the country: the Principality of Monaco Monaco

The Principality of Monaco , more commonly known as Monaco, is a constitutional monarchy [i] and city-state [i] ... 

, Nice Nice

Nice is a city in southern [i] France [i] located on the Mediterranean [i] ... 

 with Briga and Tenda EarthBound

EarthBound is a role-playing game [i] for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System [i] ... 

, some strips of the Alps near the French border , the Italian Switzerland Switzerland

Switzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked [i] Alpine country [i] in Central Europe [i] ... 

 , the peninsula of Istria Istria

Istria is the largest peninsula [i] in the Adriatic Sea [i].... 

 and a piece of Venezia Giulia, the island of Corsica Corsica

Corsica is the fourth largest island [i] in the Mediterranean Sea [i]. ... 

 and the archipelago of Malta Malta

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is a small and densely populated island nation [i] consis ... 

.

Italy was home to many well-known and influential European civilization Culture of Europe

Insert non-formatted text here
... 

s, including the Etruscans Etruscan civilization

The Etruscan civilization is the name given today to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient ... 

, Greeks Greeks

The Greeks are an ethnic group [i] mostly found in the southern Balkan peninsula [i] of southeastern Europe [i] ... 

 and the Romans Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

. For more than 3,000 years Italy experienced migrations Migration Period

This is an article on European migrations in the early part of the 1st millennium CE [i]. ... 

 and invasion Invasion

An invasion is a military [i] action consisting of armed forces [i] of one geopolitical [i] ... 

s from Germanic Germanic peoples

The Germanic peoples are groups of people identified by their use of the Germanic languages [i] that are ... 

, Celtic Celt

The term Celt, normally pronounced // , refers to a member of any of a number of peoples in Europe u... 

, Frankish Franks

The Franks or the Frankish people were one of several west Germanic federations [i] ... 

, Lombard, Byzantine Greek Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used since the 19th century [i] to describe the Greek-spea ... 

, Saracen, Norman Normans

The Normans were a people who colonized Normandy [i], conquered England [i], and played a major politic ... 

, and Angevin peoples, and was divided into many independent states until 1861 when Italy became a nation-state Nation-state

A nationstate is a specific form of state [i], which exists to provide a sovereign [i] terri ... 

.

Italy is called "il Belpaese" by its inhabitants, due to the beauty and variety of its landscapes and for having the world's largest artistic patrimony; the country is home to the greatest number of UNESCO UNESCO

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations [i] established in 1945. ... 

 World Heritage Sites .

Today, Italy is a highly developed country Developed country

A developed country is one that has a high income per capita.... 

 with the 7th highest GDP Gross domestic product

A region's gross domestic product, or GDP, is one of the several measures [i] ... 

 in 2006, a member of the G8 G8

The Group of Eight consists of Canada [i], France [i], Germany [i], Italy [i], Japan [i], Russia [i], t ... 

 and a founding member of what is now the European Union European Union

The European Union is an intergovernmental [i] and supranational [i] ... 

, having signed the Treaty of Rome Treaty of Rome

The Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community [i] and was signed by France [i], West Germany [i] ... 

 in 1957.

Inhabitants of Italy are referred to as Italians Italian people

The Italians are a Southern Europe [i]an ethnic group [i] found primarily in Italy [i] and in a wide-ran ... 

.

History



The word Italy derives from the Homeric word ?ta??? , which means "bull Cattle

Cattle are domesticated [i] ungulate [i]s, a member of the subfamily [i] Bovinae [i] of t ... 

". Excavations throughout Italy have found proof of people in Italy dating back to the Palaeolithic period some 200,000 years ago. The first Greek settlers, who arrived in Italy from Euboea Euboea

Euboea or Negropont or Negroponte, is the largest island of the Greek [i] archipelago ... 

 island the 8th century BC, possibly named their new land "land of bulls".

Italy has influenced the cultural and social development of the whole Mediterranean area Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea [i]. ... 

, deeply influencing European culture Culture of Europe

Insert non-formatted text here
... 

 as well. As a result, it has also influenced other important culture Culture

The word culture, from the Latin [i] colo, -ere, with its root meaning "to cultivate", generall ... 

s. Such cultures and civilisation Civilization

The word civilization has a variety of meanings related to human society [i]. ... 

s have existed there since prehistoric times Prehistoric Europe

Paleolithic
Lower Paleolithic [i]:
... 

. After Magna Graecia Magna Graecia

Magna Graecia is the name of the area in the Southern Italy [i] that was colonised [i] by Greek... 

, the Etruscan civilisation Etruscan civilization

The Etruscan civilization is the name given today to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient ... 

 and especially the Roman Republic Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was a phase of the ancient Roman civilization [i] characterized by a republic [i]... 

 and Empire Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman [i] civilization characterized by an autocratic [i] ... 

 that dominated this part of the world for many centuries, Italy was central to European science History of science

Science [i] is a body of empirical [i] and theoretical [i] knowledge, produced by a ... 

 and art Western art history

... 

 during the Renaissance Renaissance

In the traditional view, the Renaissance was understood as a historical age in Europe [i] that follo ... 

.



Center of the Roman civilisation for centuries, Italy lost its unity after the collapse of the Roman Empire and subsequent barbaric invasions. Briefly reunited under Byzantium , was occupied by the Longobards in 568, resulting in the peninsula becoming irreparably divided. For centuries the country was the prey of different populations, resulting in its ultimate decadence and misery. Most of the population fled from cities to take refuge in the countryside under the protection of powerful feudal lords. After the Longobards came the Franks . Italy became part of the Holy Roman Empire, later to become the Holy Roman Germanic Empire. Pippin the Short created the first nucleus of the State of the Vatican, which later became a strong countervailing force against any unification of the country.

Population and economy started slowly to pick up after 1000, with the resurgence of cities, trade, arts and literature. During the later Middle Ages the fragmentation of the peninsula, especially in the northern and central parts of the country, continued, while the southern part, with Naples Naples

Naples is the largest city in southern Italy [i] and capital of Campania [i] region and the Province of Naples [i] ... 

, Apulia Apulia

Apulia is a region in southeastern Italy [i] bordering the Adriatic Sea [i] in the east, the Ionian Sea [i] ... 

 and Sicily Sicily

Sicily is an autonomous region [i] of Italy [i] and the larges ... 

, remained under a single domination. Venice created a powerful commercial empire in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor... 

 and Black Sea Black Sea

The Black Sea is an inland sea [i] between southeastern Europe [i] and Anatolia [i] that is actually a d ... 

.

The Black Death inflicted a terrible blow to Italy, resulting in one third of the population killed by the disease. The recovery from the disaster led to a new resurgence of cities, trade and economy which greatly stimulated the successive phase of the Humanism and Renaissance when Italy again returned to be the center of Western civilisation, strongly influencing the other European countries.

After a century where the fragmented system of Italian states and principalities were able to maintain a relative independence and a balance of power in the peninsula, in 1494 the French king Charles VIII Charles VIII of France

Charles VIII the Affable was King of France [i] from 1483 [i] to his death. ... 

 opened the first of a series of invasions, lasting half of the 16th century, and a competition between France and Spain for the possession of the country. Ultimately Spain prevailed and for almost two centuries became the hegemon in Italy. The holy alliance between reactionary Catholic Spain and the Holy See resulted in the systematic persecution of any protestant movement, with the result that Italy remained a Catholic country with marginal protestant presence. The Spanish domination and the control of the Church resulted in intellectual stagnation and economic decadence, also attributable to the shifting of the main commercial routes from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.

Austria succeeded Spain as hegemon in Italy after the Peace of Utrecht , having acquired the State of Milan and the Kingdom of Naples. The Austrian domination, thanks also to the Illuminism embraced by Absburgic emperors, was a considerable improvement upon the Spanish one. The northern part of Italy, under the direct control of Vienna, again recovered economic dynamism and intellectual fervor, improved its situation.

The French Revolution French Revolution

The French Revolution was a pivotal period in the history of French, Europe [i]an and Western [i] ... 

 and the Napoleonic War Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars, a series of global [i] conflicts [i] fought during Napoleon Bonaparte [i]... 

  introduced the modern ideas of equality, democracy, law and nation. The peninsula was not a main battle field as in the past but Napoleon changed completely its political map, destroying in 1799 the Republic of Venice Republic of Venice

The Most Serene Republic of Venice was a Venetia [i]n city-state [i] in Northeastern [i]... 

, which never recovered its independence. The states founded by Napoleon with the support of minority groups of Italian patriots were short-lived and did not survive the defeat of the French Emperor in 1815.

The Restoration had all the pre-Revolution states restored with the exception of the Republic of Venice and the Republic of Genoa . Napoleon had nevertheless the merit to give birth to the first national movement for unity and independence. Albeit formed by small groups with almost no contact with the masses, the Italian patriots and liberals staged several uprisings in the decades up to 1860. Mazzini Giuseppe Mazzini

Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian [i] patriot, philosopher and politician [i].
... 

 and Garibaldi Giuseppe Garibaldi

Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian [i] patriot and soldier of the Risorgimento [i] ... 

 were the mosteconomic reform for the impoverished masses. From 1848 onwards the Italian patriots were openly supported by Vittorio Emanuele II Victor Emmanuel II of Italy

Victor Emmanuel II was the King [i] of Piedmont [i], Savoy [i] and Sardinia [i] from 1849 [i] ... 

, the king of Sardinia Kingdom of Sardinia

The Kingdom of Sardinia is the former kingdom of the Savoy dynasty [i] in northwestern Italy [i] which r ... 

, who put his arms in the Italian tricolor dedicating the House of Savoy House of Savoy

The House of Savoy or in Italian, "La Casa dei Savoia", or simply Casa Savoia, is a dynasty of nobles wh... 

 to the Italian unity.



The unification of Italy was obtained on March 17 1861, after a successful war against Austria with the support of France, and after Giuseppe Garibaldi Giuseppe Garibaldi

Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian [i] patriot and soldier of the Risorgimento [i] ... 

 organized an invasion of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies in 1860. Vittorio Emanuele II Victor Emmanuel II of Italy

Victor Emmanuel II was the King [i] of Piedmont [i], Savoy [i] and Sardinia [i] from 1849 [i] ... 

 became the first king of the united Italy.
The national territory was enlarged to Veneto and Venice in 1866 after the third War of Independence, fought by allied Italy and Prussia Prussia

Prussia was, most recently, a historic state originating in Brandenburg [i], an area which for centuries ... 

 against Austria. Rome Rome

Rome is the capital [i] of Italy [i] and of its region, called Latium [i]. ... 

 itself remained for a little less than a decade under the Papacy Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome [i], and, as Successor [i] of Saint Peter [i], is t ... 

 thanks to French protection, and became part of the Kingdom of Italy on September 20 1870, after Italian troops stormed the city.

The first unified state was plagued by a gruesome rebellion of the Southern populations opposed to the new domination, by economic stagnation, misery, illiteracy and a weak national consciousness. Italian was spoken by a small part of the population while the rest spoke local dialects.

In 1878 Umberto I Umberto I of Italy

Umberto I or Humbert I of Italy [i] , was the King of Italy [i] from 9 January [i], 1878 [i] unti ... 

 succeeded his father Vittorio Emanuele II as King of Italy. He was killed by an anarchist in 1900 and succeeded by his son Vittorio Emanuele III Victor Emmanuel III of Italy

Victor Emmanuel III of Italy , Vittorio Emanuele III in Italian [i], was King of [i] ... 

.

Industrialisation and modernisation, at least in the northern part of the country, started in the last part of the 19th century under a protectionist regime. The south, in the meanwhile, stagnated under overpopulation and underdevelopment, so forcing millions of people to search for employment and better conditions of life abroad. This lasted until 1970. It is calculated that more than 26 million Italians migrated to France, Germany, Switzerland, United States, Argentina, Brazil and Australia.

Democracy moved its first steps at the beginning of the 20th century. The 1848 Constitution provided for basic freedoms but the electoral laws excluded the disposed and the uneducated from voting. Only in 1913 the male universal suffrage was allowed. The Socialist Party resulted the main political party, outclassing the traditional liberal and conservative organizations. The path to a modern liberal democracy was interrupted by the tragedy of the First World War World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

 , which Italy fought along with France and Great Britain. Italy was able to beat the Austrian-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Dual Monarchy or k.u.k. [i] ... 

 in November 1918. It obtained Trento Trento

Trento, in English sometimes called Trent, Italian [i] Trento , German [i] ... 

 and Trieste Trieste

Trieste is a city and port in northeastern Italy [i] right on the border with Slovenia [i]. ... 

 and few territories on the Dalmatian coast Dalmatia

Dalmatia is a region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea [i], in modern Croatia [i], spreading be... 

  and was considered a great power, but the population had to pay a heavy human and social price. The war produced more than 600,000 dead, inflation and unemployment, economic and political instability, which in the end favoured the fascist movement to reach power in 1922 with the tacit support of King Vittorio Emanuele III who feared civil war and revolution.

The fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini Benito Mussolini

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was the Prime-Minister and fascist [i] dictator of Italy from... 

 lasted from 1922 to 1943 but in the first years Mussolini maintained the appearance of a liberal democracy. After rigged elections in 1924 gave to Fascism and its conservative allies an absolute majority in the Parliament, Mussolini cancelled all democratic liberties on 3 January 1925. He then proceeded to establish a totalitarian state, imposing the control of the state upon all single social and political activity. Political parties were banned, independent trade unions were closed. The only permitted party was the National Fascist Party National Fascist Party

The National Fascist Party was an Italian [i] party, created by Benito Mussolini [i] as the politi ... 

. A secret police  and a system of quasi-legal repression ensured the total control of the regime upon Italians who, in their majority, either resigned or welcomed the dictatorship, many considering it a last resort to stop the spread of communism. While relatively benign in comparison with Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia, several thousands people were incarcerated or exiled for their opposition and several dozens were killed by fascist thugs or died in prison . Mussolini tried to spread his authoritarian ideology to other European countries and dictators such as Salazar António de Oliveira Salazar

Antnio de Oliveira Salazar was the President of the Council of Ministers [i] of Portugal [i] and the d ... 

 in Portugal, Franco Francisco Franco

Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Tedulo Franco y Bahamonde Salgado Pardo , abbreviated Francisco Franc... 

 in Spain and Hitler in Germany were heavily influenced by the Italian examples. Conservative but democratic leaders in Great Britain and United States were at the beginning favourable to Mussolini. Mussolini tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to spread fascism amongst the millions on Italians living abroad.



In 1929 Mussolini realised a pact with the Holy See Holy See

The Holy See is the episcopal see [i] of Rome [i]. ... 

, resulting in the rebirth of an independent state of the Vatican Vatican City

Vatican City formally State of the Vatican City, or Vatican City State is a sovereign [i] ... 

 for the Catholic Church in the heart of Rome. In 1935 he declared war on Ethiopia Ethiopia

Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country situated in the Horn of Africa [i] ... 

 on a pretext. Ethiopia was subjugated in few months. This resulted in the alienation of Italy from its traditional allies, France and Great Britain, and its nearing to Nazi Germany. A first pact with Germany was concluded in 1936 and then in 1938 . Italy supported Franco's revolution in Spanish civil war and Hitler's pretensions in central Europe, accepting the annexation of Austria to Germany in 1938, although the disappearance of a buffer state between mighty Germany and Italy was unfavourable for the country. In October 1938 Mussolini managed to avoid the eruption of another war in Europe, bringing together Great Britain, France and Germany at the expense of Czechoslovakia's integrity.

In April 1939 Italy occupied Albania Albania

The Republic of Albania is a Balkan [i] country in Southeastern Europe [i]. ... 

, a de-facto protectorate for decades, but in September 1939, after the invasion of Poland, Mussolini wisely decided not to intervene on Germany's side, due to the poor preparation of the armed forces. Italy entered in war in June 1940 when France was almost defeated. Mussolini hoped for a quick victory but Italy showed from the very beginning the poor nature of its army and the scarce ability of its generals. Italy invaded Greece in October 1940 via Albania but after a few days was forced to withdraw. After conquering British Somalia in 1940, a counter-attack by the Allies led to the loss of the whole Italian empire in the Horn of Africa. Italy was also defeated in Northern Africa and saved only by the German armed forces led by Rommel.

After several defeats, Italy was invaded in May 1943. In July 1943 King Vittorio Emanuele III staged a coup d'etat against Mussolini, having him arrested. In September 1943 Italy surrendered. It was immediately invaded by Germany and for nearly two years the country was divided and became a battlefield. The Nazi-occupied part of the country, where a puppet fascist state under Mussolini was reconstituted, was the theatre of a savage civil war between freedom fighters and Nazi and fascist troops. The country was liberated by a national uprising on 25 April, 1945 .

Particularly in the north agitation against the king ran high, leftwing and communist armed partisans wanting to depose him as being responsible for the fascist regime. Vittorio Emanuele gave up the throne to his son Umberto II Umberto II of Italy

Umberto II, occasionally anglicized as Humbert II,, the last King of Italy [i], nicknamed the K ... 

 who again faced the possibility of civil war. Italy became a Republic Birth of the Italian Republic

The birth of the Italian Republic is a key event of Italian contemporary history [i] ... 

 after the result of a popular referendum held on 2 June, 1946, a day since then celebrated as Republic Day. The republic won with a 9% margin; the north of Italy voted prevalently for a republic, the south for the monarchy. The Republican Constitution was approved and entered into force on 1 January, 1948, including a provisional measure banning all male members of the house of Savoy from Italy. This stipulation was redressed in 2002.

Since then Italy has experienced a strong economic growth, particularly in the 50s and 60s, while lifted the country among the most industrialized nations in the world, with a perennial political instability. The Christian Democratic Party and its liberal and social democratic allies ruled Italy without interruptions from 1948 until 1994, marginalising the main opposition party, the Italian Communist Party Italian Communist Party

The Partito Comunista Italiano or Italian Communist Party emerged as Partito Comunista d'Italia'... 

, until the end of the cold war.

In 1992-94 a series of scandals and the ensuing Mani pulite investigation destroyed the post-war political system. New parties and coalition emerged: on the right, Forza Italia Forza Italia

Forza Italia is an Italian [i] party. ... 

of the media-mogul Silvio Berlusconi Silvio Berlusconi

is an Italian politician [i], entrepreneur [i], and media proprietor [i]. ... 

 is the main successor of the Christian Democrat party. On the left the Democratici di Sinistra Democrats of the Left

The Democrats of the Left is the main Italian [i] left-wing [i] political party [i], part of the Ulivo [i] ... 

are the moderate successor of the Communist Party, while the most liberal and progressive Catholic politicians belong to La Margherita Daisy—Democracy is Freedom

Daisy-Democracy is Freedom is a centrist [i] political Party [i] in Italy [i].... 

 . In 1994 Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and its allies won the elections but the government collapsed after only a few months because the Northern League split out. A technical government cabinet led by Lamberto Dini Lamberto Dini

is an Italian [i] politician and economist, former Prime Minister [i] and Foreign Minister [i] ... 

, supported by the left-wing parties and the Northern League, lasted until Romano Prodi's new center-left coalition won the 1996 general election. In 2001 the center-right took the government and Berlusconi was able to remain in power for a complete five year mandate. The last elections in 2006 Italian general election, 2006

In the Italian general election, 2006 for the renewal of the two Chambers of the Parliament of Italy [i] ... 

 returned Prodi in the government with a slim majority.

Italy is a founding member of the European Community European Community

The European Community , most important of three European Communities, was originally founded on March 25 [i] ... 

, European Union European Union

The European Union is an intergovernmental [i] and supranational [i] ... 

 and NATO NATO

Aznar also proposed a strategic co-operation with India [i] and Colombia [i]. ... 

.

Politics




The 1948 Constitution of Italy Constitution of Italy

The Constitution of Italy is the supreme law [i] of Italy [i]. ... 

 established a bicameral Bicameralism

In government [i], bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chamber [i]s. ... 

 parliament Parliament

A parliament is a legislature [i], especially in those countries whose system of government is based on ... 

 , consisting of a Chamber of Deputies Italian Chamber of Deputies

The Italian [i] Chamber of Deputies is the lower house [i] of the Parliament of Italy [i].... 

  and a Senate Italian Senate

The Italian Senate is the upper house [i] of the Parliament of Italy [i]. ... 

 , a separate judiciary, and an executive branch composed of a Council of Ministers , headed by the prime minister Prime minister of Italy

In Italy [i], the President of the Council of Ministers is the country's prime minister or head of government [i] ... 

 .

The President of the Republic List of Presidents of the Italian Republic

This is the list of Presidents of the Italian Republic [i] with the ti ... 

  is elected for seven years by the parliament sitting jointly with a small number of regional delegates. The president nominates the prime minister, who proposes the other ministers . The Council of Ministers must retain the support of both houses.

The houses of parliament Parliament

A parliament is a legislature [i], especially in those countries whose system of government is based on ... 

 are popularly and directly elected through a complex electoral system which combines proportional representation with a majority prize for the largest coalition . The electoral system in the Senate is based upon regional representation. In fact in 2006 elections the two competing coalitions were separated by few thousand votes, and in the Chamber the Center-left coalition got 345 Deputies against 277 for the Center-right one , while in the Senate l'Ulivo got only two Senators more than absolute majority.
The Chamber of Deputies has 630 members, the Senate 315 elected senators; in addition, the Senate includes former presidents and other persons appointed senators for life by the President of the Republic according to special constitutional provisions. As of 15 May 2006, there are seven life senators . Both houses are elected for a maximum of five years, but both may be dissolved by the President of the Republic before the expiration of their normal term if the Parliament is unable to elect a stable government.


In the post war history, that happened in 1972, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1994 and 1996. A peculiarity of the Italian Parliament is the representation given to Italians permanently living abroad . Among the 630 Deputies and the 315 Senators there are respectively 12 and 6 elected in four distinct foreign constituencies. Those members of Parliament were elected for the first time in April 2006 and they enjoy the same rights as members elected in Italy. Legislative bills may originate in either house and must be passed by a majority in both. The Italian judicial system is based on Roman law modified by the Napoleonic code and later statutes. A constitutional court, the Corte Costituzionale, passes on the constitutionality of laws, and is a post-World War II innovation.

All Italian citizens older than 18 can vote. However, to vote for the senate, the voter must be at least 25 or older.

See also: Foreign relations of Italy, List of Foreign Ministers of Italy, List of Prime Ministers of Italy

Administrative divisions



Italy is subdivided into 20 regions . Five of these regions enjoy a special autonomous status that enables them to enact legislation on some of their specific local matters, and are marked by an *:
  1. Abruzzo Abruzzo

    Abruzzo is a region of central Italy [i] bordering Marche [i] to the north, Lazio [i] to the west and so ... 

  2. Basilicata Basilicata

    Basilicata is a region in the south of Italy [i], bordering on Campania [i] to the west, Puglia [i] to t ... 

  3. Calabria Calabria

    Calabria , is a region in southern Italy [i] which occupies the "toe" of the Italian peninsula south of... 

  4. Campania Campania

    Campania is a region of Southern Italy [i], bordering on Lazio [i] to the north-west, Molise [i] to the ... 

  5. Emilia-Romagna Emilia-Romagna

    Emilia-Romagna is an administrative region [i] of Northern Italy [i] comprising the two ... 

  6. Friuli-Venezia Giulia Friuli-Venezia Giulia

    Friuli-Venezia Giulia is one of the twenty Regions of Italy [i], and one of five with administrative autonomy [i] ... 

    *
  7. Latium Latium

    Latium is a regione [i] of central Italy [i], bordered by Tuscany [i], Umbria [i], ... 

    , Lazio
  8. Liguria Liguria

    Liguria is a coastal region [i] of north-western Italy [i], the third smallest of the I ... 

  9. Lombardy Lombardy

    Lombardy is a region in northern Italy [i] between the Alps [i] and the Po [i] river valley.... 

    , Lombardia
  10. Marches, Marche
  11. Molise Molise

    Molise is a region of central Italy [i], the second smallest of the regions. ... 

  12. Piedmont Piedmont

    Piedmont is a region [i] of northwestern Italy [i]. ... 

    , Piemonte
  13. Apulia Apulia

    Apulia is a region in southeastern Italy [i] bordering the Adriatic Sea [i] in the east, the Ionian Sea [i] ... 

    , Puglia
  14. Sardinia Sardinia

    Sardinia At the beginning of the nuragic [i] age circa 1500 BC [i] the island was first called Hyknus ... 

    *, Sardegna
  15. Aosta Valley Aosta Valley

    The Aosta Valley is a mountainous region [i] in north-western Italy [i].... 

    *, Valle d'Aosta / Vallée d'Aoste
  16. Tuscany Tuscany

    Tuscany is a region in central Italy [i], bordering on Latium [i] to the south, Umbria [i] and Marche [i]... 

    , Toscana
  17. Trentino-South Tyrol Trentino-South Tyrol

    Trentino-South Tyrol is an autonomous [i] Region [i] ... 

    *, Trentino-Alto Adige / Trentino-Südtirol
  18. Umbria Umbria

    Umbria is a region of central Italy [i], bordered by Tuscany [i] to the west, the Marche [i] to the east ... 

  19. Sicily Sicily

    Sicily is an autonomous region [i] of Italy [i] and the larges ... 

    *, Sicilia
  20. Veneto Veneto

    Vneto is one of the regions of Italy [i]. ... 




All regions except the Aosta Valley are further subdivided into two or more provinces Provinces of Italy

In Italy, a province [i] is an administrative division of an intermediate level between municipality [i] ... 

.

Geography


Italy consists predominantly of a large peninsula Peninsula

A peninsula is a geographical [i] formation [i] consisting of an extension of land [i] ... 

  with a distinctive boot shape that extends into the Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] almost completely enclosed by land: on the nor... 

, where together with its two main islands Sicily Sicily

Sicily is an autonomous region [i] of Italy [i] and the larges ... 

 and Sardinia Sardinia

Sardinia At the beginning of the nuragic [i] age circa 1500 BC [i] the island was first called Hyknus ... 

 it creates distinct bodies of water, such as the Adriatic Sea Adriatic Sea

The Adriatic Sea is a large body of water on the west side of the Mediterranean Sea [i] separating the Apennine peninsula [i] ... 

 to the north-east, the Ionian Sea Ionian Sea

The Ionian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea [i], south of the Adriatic Sea [i]. ... 

 to the south-east, the Tyrrhenian Sea Tyrrhenian Sea

The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea [i] off of the western coast of Italy [i].
... 

 to the south-west and finally the Ligurian Sea Ligurian Sea

The Ligurian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea [i], between the Italian Riviera [i] and the islands ... 

 to the north-west.


The Apennine mountains Apennine mountains

The Apennine Mountains is a mountain range [i] stretching 1000 km [i] from the north to the s ... 

 form the backbone of this peninsula, leading north-west to where they join the Alps Alps

The Alps is the name for one of the great mountain range [i] systems of Europe [i], stretching from Austria [i] ... 

, the mountain range that then forms an arc enclosing Italy from the north.
Here is also found a large alluvial plain, the Po-Venetian plain, drained by the Po River Po River

The Po is a river that flows 652 kilometers eastward across northern Italy [i], from Monviso [i] to t ... 

 — which is Italy's biggest river with 652 km — and its many tributaries flowing down from the Alps Alps

The Alps is the name for one of the great mountain range [i] systems of Europe [i], stretching from Austria [i] ... 

 , 194 km, and Apennines .

Other well-known or importants rivers include the Tiber Tiber

The Tiber , the third-longest river [i] in Italy [i] at 406 km after the Po [i] and the Adige [i] ... 

  , Adige Adige

The Adige is a river [i] with its source in the region of South Tyrol [i]/Alto Adige [i], Italy [i]. ... 

 , Arno Arno River

The Arno is a river [i] in the Tuscany [i] region of Italy [i].
... 

 , Piave , Reno , Volturno , Tagliamento , Liri-Garigliano , Isonzo Soca

The Soca or Isonzo is a 140 km long river [i] that flows through Western Slovenia [i] and North ... 

 .

Its highest point is Mont Blanc Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco also known as "La Dame Blanche" , in the Alps [i], is the highest mountain [i] ... 

  at 4,810 metre Metre

The metre, or meter , is a measure of length [i]. ... 

s . Italy is more typically associated with two famous volcano Volcano