When you travel Italy,
you could be interested to learn that for more than 3,000 years of its
existence the country, lovingly called all over the world lo Stivale
("the Boot") has been home for many European cultures, among which
there are such important ones as Greeks and the Romans. In the course
of its history of Italy has experienced many ups
and downs, today being a highly-developed land that heads various world
ratings. Italy is a founding member of the European Community, European
Union, Council of Europe and NATO.
Just at the dawn of human society the fall of the Roman Empire in about
500 for which Italy was the heart and the numerous barbarian invasions
that followed resulted in fragmentation and decay of the land.
Demographic and economical situation started to improve gradually after
1000, with the revival of cities (partially democratic Comuni), trade
and arts.
Some 300 years later in the middle of 14th century an epidemic of
plague swept like a typhoon all over the country killing one third of
its population. However, the recovery from the terrible disease greatly
stimulated economy and on the turn of the 15th century in the eras of
Humanism and Renaissance Italy was the centre of Western civilization
again.
In late 15th century a continuous series of invasions started which
lasted around 50 years and led to the two-century Spanish possession.
Such domination together with the total control of the Church
inevitably led to another period of intellectual and economic
stagnancy. Nevertheless, the following hegemony of Austria with its
ideas of the Enlightenment helped improve the situation in the country
a bit.
Centuries passed by, and in 1790-ies the Napoleonic War brought the
modern ideas of equality and law into Italy, stirring the national
movement for independence and completely changing its political map.
In the last part of the 19th century, industrialisation and
modernisation started to pave the way to democracy. Yet there was
another obstacle on this path, and it was the First World War where
France and the United Kingdom were Italy's allies. The country paid a
high human and social price for the victory. It could be this
depression that let the Fascists come to power. Practically all
democratic liberties were abolished and the country entered into years
of totalitarian regime with its inevitable repressions.
Italy came to take part in World War Two in 1940 hoping for a quick
victory but suffered defeat after defeat instead, surrendering in 1943
and becoming a battlefield for almost two more years. That very year,
Mussolini was overthrown and by end of war the country was liberated.
A year later, resulting from a referendum, Italy became a republic.
Since then constant economic growth lifted the country among the most
industrialised nations in the world.
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