The History of Italy from the Etruscans to the Mafia

Catalog description

Italy is beloved by many, for its food, language, and art; however, we often understand it only superficially, and often fail to grasp the darker elements of its history. This class will consider the history of the Italian peninsula from the time of its earliest inhabitants, the Etruscans, up through the twenty-first century. We will consider topics such as the Roman world and its legacy, the rise of Christianity, the growth of medieval towns and their economies, Renaissance, the Risorgimento or the formation of the modern nation of Italy, Italian fascism, the wars of the twentieth century, Italian film, the history of Italian food including pizza and pasta, Italian communism, and the growth of organized crime and the mafia. Special attention will be paid throughout to the relationship between Northern and Southern Italy, as well as the special city of Venice and its relationship to the rest of the peninsula.