HISTORY OF ITALY

Italy gained its present-day single political identity only in 1861 but varieties of
people have lived in the region from the early ages. The Etruscans were the first
people to rule the peninsula
around the 8th century BC
and were eventually overrun
by the Roman Empire. The
ancient Greeks also set up a
few

colonies

along

the

southern coast.
The first Roman Republic was founded in 509 BC and driven by strong, military
and dictatorial monarchs, the empire expanded into many parts of Europe and
beyond and grew so large that it was eventually divided into eastern and
western sectors. However, as often happens with nations driven by the politics
of greed, this power proved unsustainable in the long term. Plague, famine and
foreign incursions drove the Roman empire into the dark ages, a terrible time of
continual invasions by the Lombards, Muslims and Normans till the tumultuous
brew settled somewhat in the 12th century.
The rise of cities and a merchant class led to the Renaissance in the 15th
century during which painters, architects, poets, philosophers and sculptors
produced works of genius that prevail till today. In the next few centuries, Spain,
Austria and France had their turns at controlling the peninsula until Italy was
unified in 1861.

Industrialization and modernization increased through the 19th century but

Italys participation in WWI extracted a
heavy price. Economic and political
instability made it easy for Benito
Mussolini to seize power and establish
his dark, fascist reign over the country in
1922. The Fascist movement lasted for 21 years during which a totalitarian
regime was put into place and earlier ties with France and the United Kingdom
gave way to an alliance with Nazi Germany. Italy was defeated by the Allied
forces in WWII and liberated from fascism by a national uprising on 25 April
1945. Italy became a Republic after the result of a popular referendum held on
2 June 1946.