Between fifteenth and eighth centuries B.C., the Terramare culture flourished in Italy. The people who follow this culture were known as Terramares. Agriculture was the main occupation of these people. The Terramares tamed animals and earned their livelihood by hunting and farming. These people also excelled in metallurgy and their bronze moulds of clay and stone are still famous.
Iron Age
The Iron Age in Italy belongs to the time period between eighth to the fifth century B.C. The establishment of the Villanovan culture around the Po River valley and Etruria in Bologna was the first civilization in the era. These people performed cremations and buried the ashes of the dead in double-cone shaped urn potteries.
Etruscan Civilization
The Etruscans dominated the region around Italy around 8000 B.C. The Etruscan civilization lived in a monogamous society. They spoke non-Indo European languages and believed in polytheism. Polytheism is a phenomena where everything in this world is regulated by some divine power, and every incident on earth are manifestations of this divine spirit.
Rome
Rome was founded in fifth century B.C. by Romulus and Remus. The Roman history saw rise and fall of many civilizations, that led to considerable expansion of its territories. Julius Caesar, Octavius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Augustus were some of the most notable Roman emperors. The Roman Empire was one of the most mighty empires of the times and conquered several regions. The most important was the conquest of Britain, by emperor Claudius. The Empire collapsed as it was divided between several kingdoms.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages (6th-14th century B.C.) saw many political upheavals and changes. Following the overthrow of the last Roman Emperor in 493 B.C., by the Germanic general Odoacer, the country was in a state of turmoil. The situation worsened with the onset of the Gothic war following which the Lombards took control of the country. The invasion of the Lombards on the Italian mainland was, however, superseded by the Byzantine Empire and the successful rule of Emperor Charlemagne. The formation of the Papal States finally brought political stability in the political history of Italy.
Italy saw remarkable changes in the social, cultural, and political spheres between fifteenth and sixteenth century B.C. This period was known as the Renaissance. It was a cultural and intellectual movement that began at Tuscany, and proceeded into the interiors of Italy, affecting all spheres of human life in the country. The Renaissance was a "rebirth" of certain classical ideas that had been lost in Europe. The movement fuelled the rediscovery of ancient texts that had been lost to the Western civilization. Many Greek and Arabic texts were translated into the popular language of the times, Latin.
Fascist Period
The Italian states were reunited into a single country under the leadership of Cavour during the sixteenth and the nineteenth century BC. Italy was declared a nation-state in 1861. Monarchy gradually disappeared from the country and the country prepared itself for the First World War. The period following Second World War saw the emergence of Fascism in Italy under the able leadership of Benito Mussolini who led the country into the war against Germany and the Axis Powers. After the Second World War ended, Italy was proclaimed a Republic on June 2, 1946. This day is celebrated as Republic Day since then. A new constitution was adopted and Italian women were entitled to vote.
