An Overview of the Past of Italy

When you think of Italy, it’s nearly impossible to not think of the past. It is rich and complex starting from before ancient Roman times, continuing on through the turbulence of fascism, and finally ending with today’s modern country. Italy has it all – mystery, intrigue, religion, beauty and character, and studying the past of this impressive country can help us all to understand the current culture of Italy.

The earliest recorded mention Italy comes from the Paleolithic era, which occurred over 200,000 years ago. Italy didn’t really become a fully formed area, however, until the first Greek settlers arrived in the country in the eighth century BC. The name Italy is said to have either come from the name Italus, who was one of the kings of the area, or the Homeric word that meant “bull”. By the third century BC, the Romans had taken over the entire area of the Mediterranean, which included Italy, and this boot-shaped land became part of the Roman Empire. This Roman era led to prosperity and peace for the land of Italy, and this was continued until around 400 AD.

The Germanic people became the rulers of Italy around 400 AD. They ruled for roughly 135 years until, in 535, Justinian reclaimed the area for Rome. For the next 1000 years, Italy became a fragmented group of city states, and the paths of the southern and northern parts of Italy differed greatly. In the northern area, the city states of Genoa, Florence, Milan and especially Venice prospered, both in areas of commerce and those of politics. The southern part of Italy, in areas such as Sicily, were taken over first by Muslims in the ninth century and then by the Normans in the 1050’s. The areas of Sicily and Naples were filled with turmoil, but they also produced the climate that fed the Italian Renaissance movement where artists such as Michelangelo produced stunning works.

By the 1600’s, the Hapsburgs had taken control of the area of Italy and were strong rulers of many city states. Their rule was opposed, however, and by 1861, Italy’s smaller city states had united to form a full country known as Italy. Victor Immanuel II became the first king of Italy, and the country continued under a monarch until 1946, when a republic was developed.

Since that time, the republic has continued without interruption with one exception. In the 1930s, Mussolini became the elected President, but was for all intensive purposes a fascist dictator. As you know, he was deposed as Italy was defeated in World War II. Since that time, the country has remained a republic.

Richard Monk is with FactsMonk.com – a site with facts about everything. Visit us to read more about Italy.

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My friend studied Fashion Design in Rome during one semester of her Undergraduate studies. Whenever she speaks of her overseas experience, she can’t help but get a huge smile. During her program, there was a fashion design competition, which she ended up winning and gaining great publicity and enhancing her resume. She is now teaching at an American University.

There are programs for everyone; the casual traveler that wishes to learn more about a specific subject, summer sessions, college credit sessions, high school programs, and, Graduate programs. The four main cities to consider for your overseas adventures are Rome, Torino, Siena, Florence, and Venice. Rome will obviously have the most programs available since it is the largest city and the country’s capital. The benefits of studying here include the multitude of historical sites you can visit, a vibrant festive atmosphere, and using its great location as a jumping-off point to visit other Italian and Mediterranean locations.

Torino was made famous by hosting the 2006 Winter Olympics and would be a great place to live and study during the winter months; if you like skiing, of course. Siena is located in the heart of Tuscany, Italy’s primary wine growing region. Living in this ancient city, you will feel as if you’ve been transported back into the ages while walking through the many beautiful piazza and courtyards. Florence is world famous for its Michelangelo’s David, the nightlife, and all around Italian charm. The city offers a cultural experience that rivals any program in the world. Venice, of course, is surrounded by the mystique of its romantic aura. Since the city is actually made up of over one hundred Islands and over four hundred bridges, to get to classes, there’s a good chance you might have to take a stroll along the canal or ride a water taxi as you people watch everyone strolling by.

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Learning to Love the Lingo

If you are serious about learning Italian in Italy, you should stay in an area where Italian is the only language that is spoken. If you visit an area like Rome, for example, you will find that a great many people in the city speak English. This is like this in most tourist areas of Italy. The more touristy the area, the more people will speak English. You may know a few words in Italian, but you will not even come close to actually learning how to speak Italian when you visit these cities.

In order to learn to speak Italian, you should visit a part of Italy where the people do not speak English. This may be difficult to do, as well as frightening. It can be very intimidating, not knowing how to speak a language but being forced to communicate with others. However, this is the best way for you to learn how to speak this language.

Not only will you get a chance to actually learn to speak Italian when you are visiting Italy, but you will also get a unique opportunity to be able to see how real Italian people live. This can be a once in a lifetime opportunity for you. Rather than just see the tourist area of Italy, you will get to see the areas where the real Italian people live. What better way to truly experience Italy?

Getting Familiar with the Lingo

Before you take your trip to Italy, you should take some lessons in Italian. This will help you try to understand the language before you take the trip. The more you learn, the better off you will be, although be aware that many people will speak very fast and it will not be as easy to understand as when you are learning in a classroom setting or in a book. You should also take a book with you so that you can translate for yourself when you are in want of something.

If you make it a point not to speak any other language but Italian during your trip, you will become better versed in this language. If you frequently fall back on English, you will find that you use this as a crutch for yourself and will not make yourself learn this language. If you feel that you have to learn the language in order to survive, you will do so. If you feel that you can always revert back to English if you really want to, then you will not learn Italian.

The best way to learn Italian is to go to Italy to an area where English is not spoken. The more you speak Italian, the more you will learn and understand and the easier the language will be for you.

Do you want to learn how to speak Italian? Go to LanguageSchoolReviewer.com and see user-provided reviews of language schools in Italy

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