Fact On Italy

A Look at Italy in History
By John Dulaney

Early Settlers in Italy

The earliest important settlers in Italy were Etruscans. The Etruscans built settlements in the northern area of Italy before the sixth century B.C. Rome, known as The Empire, was determined to extend its influence around the world, and thus made the Mediterranean advertisement, using the Mediterranean Sea for trade of food, wood, tin, cotton and silver with other great nations.

A Spiral Downward

Pressures from without and discord from within led to the destruction of the empire by the fifth century. The Germans assumed power of Italy, representing the Eastern Emperor in Constantinople. They tried to keep the Roman lifestyle alive, however. After a couple of changes in power, Italy became broken up into several states by the late sixth century.

Over the next millennium, Italy became a complex land with the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy taking control in the north and several different groups of people taking over in the south, such as Muslims, Normans, Bourbons and others.

Medieval Period in Italy

Charlemagne took control of northern Italy during the eighth century. Throughout the remainder of the Medieval period, his successors tried to recreate imperial power as Rome had with no success.

Florence, Milan, Genoa and Venice became independent cities during the 11th century. Meanwhile in the South, Muslims took control of Sicily during the ninth century, and then Normans took over in 1059, who controlled most of the south.