Italy

Italy

• Environment• Migration• Economy• Regions

Physical:

• Apennine Mountains• Narrow coastal plains• Seismic activity

– Mt. Etna, Vesuvius• Alps

Climate

• Alps block moisture from the North Atlantic leading to Mediterranean climate

• However, as late as 1960 more than 1/3 of the population worked in agriculture

• Today, 10 % work in agriculture

Migration

• 58 million people – mostly concentrated on the coastal plains and valleys

• Early 1900’s - push factors to migration: lack of farmland, unemployment– Migration to other parts of Italy– Migration to other countries

Economy• Modern economy shifting

toward manufacturing & steel industry

• 1950’s – poor agricultural country worked to help form the EU….Italian workers were willing to work for low wages so Italian goods could be sold at lower prices and Industry boomed.

• Creativity in Industry – ex: high fashion clothing

Brief History• Roman Empire• Small political units, many independent kingdoms /

states• Roman Catholic church gained control• 1861 states in the north formed “Italy”. • Within 10 years the entire peninsula united.• Late 1800’s Italy joined with Germany and Austria-

Hungary to form Triple alliance. • Italy bailed from the alliance after watching for a year.• WWII – Italy started on Germany’s side, and only

switched sides after the tide changed…..

Northern Italy

• European Italy• Po River• Industry – 2/3 of

Italy’s factory roducts• Milan, Turin• Hydroelectricity• Genoa (port)• Ski resorts in Alps

Venice

• Built on islands• Subsidence – the ground is sinking!• Tourism• Canals

Central Italy

• Rome– Center of Roman Empire– Center of Catholic Church

• Vatican City• Bologna – Agriculture• Florence – Arts and Culture• Renaissance

Vatican City

• Less than 1 square mile• Has own prison, stamps, newspaper,

army, library and radio station…..• Stay tuned for “Vatican City” faces

magazine!

Southern Italy• Mezzogiorno – means “Midday”• Includes Sicily and Sardinia• Poor soil, outdated farming techniques• Some industry located here after WWII,

but have not done well in recent decades.• Many citizens have migrated to northern

Italy, or Naples.

Naples

• Overcrowded – too many people, not enough jobs

• Mt. Vesuvius……

San Marino

• Only 24 square miles• Claims to be the oldest state in Europe• Fun Fact: Although once at the heart of San Marino's army, the Crossbow

Corps is now a ceremonial force of approximately 80 volunteers. The Crossbow Corps since 1295 has provided demonstrations of crossbow shooting at festivals. Its uniform is medieval in design, and although a statutory military unit, it has no actual military function today.

Stay tuned for…..

• In the Shadow of Vesuvius • When Darkness came rolling over the

land…….

The Coliseum

• When I was there, the tour guide told us…

The End