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Italy had a long history before the Romans. The "ice man" recently found in the Alpine passes is the most famous example of prehistoric life in the region.
Around the eighth century BC the Phoenicians settled in Sardinia and Sicily; they were followed by the Carthaginians and the Greeks. The Etruscans in Central Italy are of unknown origin. The Greek cities became larger and wealthier than their original homes in Greece and the region was known as Magna Graecia (Great Greece).
Rome, on the banks of the River Tiber, grew in power and conquered her neighbours. The Roman kings were ejected early on and the city became a republic, ruled by elected officials. The republic conquered all Italy and took control of Greece, Spain, parts of France, Africa and the Middle East. After a Civil War, Julius Caesar took personal power. He was followed by a number of Caesars including Augustus Caesar, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero.
By the middle of the third century barbarian invasions from the north were cutting into the Empire. The Emperor Diocletian divided the Empire into two halves, with the Eastern capital in Constantinople. The Eastern Empire prospered while the West crumbled. Rome was sacked by Alaric in 410 AD.
Despite the reunification of the two Empires under Justinian (552AD) pressure from the tribes from Germany and France continued. Over time the Pope, Bishop of Rome, had claimed the right to speak for all Christians. In 800 Pope Leo crowned Charlemagne, King of the Franks, as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. All of Italy came under his control except for Sicily, now conquered by Arabs from North Africa and parts of the South ruled by Greeks.
In the eleventh century Sicily and Southern Italy were conquered by the Normans. The Pope and the Emperor competed with each other and with the French for control of the North. This confusion allowed the more powerful cities, such as Florence and Venice, to seize their independence.
In 1529 Pope Clement and the Emperor Charles, who was also King of Spain, settled their differences. Faced by the growing strength of Protestantism the Church reacted through the Inquisition and the establishment of orders such as the Jesuits.
France, Spain and Austria, all laid claim to parts of Italy over the next centuries and the ensuing struggle left the country divided and weak. By 1810 Napoleon had taken control of all Italy. After Napoleon's defeat various factions reigned until 1861 when the country became the Kingdom of Italy. Key players in the reunification were Giuseppe Mazzini, Camillo Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi. The final unification came in 1870 when the last French troops were driven from Rome.
At the end of the nineteenth century Italy once again began to colonize areas outside the country with campaigns in Abyssinia and Eritrea. Libya and the Greek Islands of the Dodecanese were seized from Turkey.
During the First World War, Italy fought against Germany. Social unrest followed the war and in 1922 Benito Mussolini, the Fascist leader, took control of the country. During the Second World War, Mussolini sided with Hitler and Germany against the British. Mussolini was executed at the end of the war. The following year the King of Italy abdicated and Italy became a Republic. Since this time Italy has had many governments.
Economic growth in the industrialized north has caused internal migration from the south. Poor Italians also emigrated to Australia and the USA in large numbers.
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