“ITALY” ITS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The purpose of this research paper is to assess the country of Italy, as well as its background, social , economic, geography and history. In addition, I should like to add some mention regarding the gastronomy of Italy. Since earliest times, the history of Italy has been influenced by cultural and political divisions resulting from the peninsulas disparate geography, and by circumstances that made Italy the scene of many of Europe’s most important struggle for power. The country of Italy can be taken back to the Roman Empire, the Franks, the Ottonians, and the rise of the Italian city - states. In this climate of political and social fragmentation, individual Italian cities began to assert their autonomy. During the eleventh century an elaborate pattern of communal government began to evolve under the leadership of a Burgher class grown wealthy in trade, banking, and such industries as woolen textiles. Many cities, especially Florence, Genoa, Pisa, Milan, and Venice became powerful and independent city - states. In the eighteen century, as in the Renaissance, intellectual changes began to break down traditional values and i...