A brief history of Italy

By cate0422
  • 3300 BCE

    PREHISTORY

    PREHISTORY
    There are many Paleolithic and Neolithic settlements in Italy and also sophisticated civilisations of Bronze Age (ex. Terramaricoli in Emilia, Nuraghi in Sardinia)
  • Period: 3300 BCE to

    BRIEF HISTORY OF ITALY

  • 900 BCE

    GREEKS AND ETRUSCANS

    GREEKS AND ETRUSCANS
    When Greek settlers established colonies in south Italy, this area was called Magna Grecia.
    Meanwhile, in the north of the Tiber and around the Arno, there was another important civilation: the Etruscans. They also traded with Greeks.
    The Etruscans became very powerful by 6th century BC in central and northern Italy
  • 753 BCE

    THE ROMAN EMPIRE

    THE ROMAN EMPIRE
    Latin communities settled on the Palatine Hill and formed the first nucleus of Rome and, which gradually expanded.
    With the Emperor Augustus the Roman Empire was born and in the next centuries they quickly became very powerful, invading a lot of countries.
  • 476

    THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

    THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
    From the middle of the 3rd century, began invasions and civil wars. The Emperator Diocletian divided the empire into east and west with also the persecution of Christians.
    Constantine, his successor, united the two empires briefly and in 313 AD, declared Christianity the state religion.
    Unfortunately in the 5thy century began the invasions by Vandals in the Western Empire and in 476, the Germanic deposed the last emperor.
  • 1000

    THE MIDDLE AGES

    THE MIDDLE AGES
    The early Middle Ages was a period with constant invasions but from the end of the 11th century, trades had started to develop again.
    Four cities (Genova, Pisa, Amalfi and Venice) became very important political and commercial powers.
    Also, in the same period, were born the first comuni with the Holy Roman Empire
  • 1400

    THE RENAISSANCE

    THE RENAISSANCE
    In this period had returned intellectual and artistic ideas of ancient Greek and Roman.
    Most of wealthy families like Medici and popes, financed architectural projects, paintings and sculpture from artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
    Besides, the Tuscan dialect became Italy's literary language.

  • FOREIGN RULE

    FOREIGN RULE
    From 16th to 18th century, Italy was invaded by the most important countries such as France and Spain.
    From the discovery of America and the Indian Ocean, Italy lost much of its importance.
    In 1796, Napoleon invaded Italy, but after the defeat of his empire, Italy ,with the Congress of Vienna, was divided in 10 states

  • UNIFICATION

    UNIFICATION
    There were a lot of discontent with the political and social situation.
    Two radical Italian nationalists, Giuseppe Mazzini and Giuseppe Garibaldi, had a big role in the Risorgimento, the movement to reform and unite the country.
    On 17th March 1861 the Kingdom of Italy was officially proclaimed and 10 years later Rome became the capital.