raise sheep, pigs, cattle, and chickens.
Fishing is another important source of
food.
History
More than 2,500 years ago a group of
people known as the Etruscans began
building a civilization in west-central
Italy. The Etruscans later fell under the
control of the Romans, their neighbors
to the south. Rome became the chief
power in the Mediterranean world. By
AD 117 the Roman Empire stretched
from Britain to North Africa to what is
now the Middle East.
Later, groups of people from the north
invaded the Roman Empire. By AD 476
they had destroyed the empire. After
that the region was divided into many
small kingdoms. Various rulers tried to
control the different kingdoms. The
most important of these local rulers,
however, was the pope. The pope was
the leader of the Roman Catholic
church and was based in Rome.
City-States and the Renaissance
During this period some cities in northern
Italy developed into small but powerful
states. They were called city-states.
Among them were Florence, Venice, and
Milan. These city-states competed
intensely for the control of trade
between Europe and Asia.
As the city-states gained wealth from
trade, they became centers of art. Their
rulers and merchants encouraged architecture,
painting, sculpture, and literature.
This growing interest in the arts is
known as the Renaissance. It made Italy
the cultural center of theWestern world
from the 1300s to the 1500s.
From Foreign Rule to Unification
In the late 1400s France invaded Italy.
Until the 1800s rulers from France,
Spain, and Austria controlled the various
parts of Italy.
The Italian city of Florence is known for its
many famous museums and churches.
Facts About
ITALY
Population
(2008 estimate)
59,760,000
Area
116,343 sq mi
(301,328 sq km)
Capital
Rome
Form of
government
Republic
Major cities
Rome, Milan,
Naples, Turin,
Palermo, Genoa
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Italy 173
In the 1800s three men began to fight
against the foreign rulers. Their names
were Giuseppe Mazzini, Giuseppe
Garibaldi, and Camillo Cavour. They
forced the rulers to leave. They then
brought all the parts of Italy together as
one country. By 1861 most of Italy was
united under Victor Emmanuel II, who
became king. The pope still controlled
Rome, but in 1870 Italian troops
invaded the city and took control. This
completed the unification of Italy.
Mussolini andWorldWar II
Italy joined the Allies—Russia, France,
and Great Britain—during WorldWar I
(1914–18). After the war Italians were
divided on many issues. Many wanted a
strong leader to take charge. The dictator
Benito Mussolini and his Fascist
party soon rose to power. (Fascists
believe that the strength of the country
is all-important.) Mussolini ruled
harshly. People who criticized him were
imprisoned, sent far away, or killed.
Italy formed an alliance with Nazi Germany
in 1936. In 1940 Mussolini
brought Italy intoWorldWar II on Germany’s
side. When the Allies invaded
Italy in 1943, Mussolini escaped. Italy
surrendered to the Allies and then joined
the war against Germany.
Postwar Italy
After the war, in 1946, the Italian people
voted to make the country a republic. (A
republic is a country not ruled by a king
or queen.) Italy developed many political
parties and had more than 50
changes in government by the 21st century.
Nevertheless, the economy grew to
be one of the strongest in the world.
Italy was a founding member of the
European Economic Community, which
became the European Union in 1993.
#More to explore
European Union • Fascism
• Renaissance • Rome • Rome, Ancient
• Vatican City
about 476 about 1350 1870 1922 1940 1946 1993
The Roman
Empire falls.
The
Renaissance
begins in Italy’s
city-states.
Italy becomes a
united
kingdom.
Fascist leader
Benito
Mussolini
comes to
power.
Italy sides with
Germany in
World War II.
The Italian
Republic is
founded.
Italy becomes
part of the
European
Union.
T I M E L I N E
174 Italy BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Ivan IV
Ivan IV ruled the country of Russia
from 1533 to 1584. In 1547 he became
Russia’s first tsar. The tsar was the country’s
highest leader at that time.
Although Ivan made improvements to
his country during his reign, he is
remembered mostly for his cruelty. He is
also called Ivan the Terrible.
Ivan was born in 1530 to Grand Prince
Vasily III of Moscow and his second
wife, Yelena Glinskaya. On December 4,
1533, Ivan’s father died. The 3-year-old
Ivan then became grand prince of Moscow.
Ivan’s mother ruled for him until
her death in 1538.
As Russia’s leader, Ivan hoped to make
the country more powerful. He created
new laws and reorganized the government.
He also improved the military and
encouraged the development of Russian
culture. But he mistreated many people
who opposed him. He had more than
3,000 people killed. He even struck and
killed his son Ivan. After Ivan IV died in
1584, his son Fyodor became tsar.
Ivory Coast
#see Cote d’Ivoire.
Ivy
Ivy is a vine that is known for clinging
to walls and trees. It grows in cool, moist
regions. There are several types of ivy,
but the most common is English ivy.
Ivy is native to Europe, Asia, and North
Africa. Many varieties of ivy have been
introduced throughout the world.
