--- title: Italy author: Jan van der Crabben source: https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Italy _Authored by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/)_ The Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula is one of the three peninsulas of Southern [Europe](https://www.worldhistory.org/europe/) (the other two being the Iberian Peninsula and Balkan Peninsula), spanning 1,000 km from the Po Valley in the north to the central [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/) Sea in the south. The peninsula is bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west, the Ionian Sea on the south, and the Adriatic Sea on the east. The interior part of the Apennine Peninsula consists of the Apennine Mountains, from which it takes its name, the northern part is largely plains and the coasts are lined with cliffs. Excavations throughout Italy reveal a modern human presence dating back to the Palaeolithic period, some 200,000 years ago. In the 8th and 7th centuries BCE [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) colonies were established all along the coast of [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/) and the southern part of the Italian Peninsula. Subsequently, Romans referred to this area as [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/), as it was so densely inhabited by Greeks. Ancient [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) was at first a small agricultural community founded circa the 8th century BCE that grew over the course of the centuries into a colossal [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) encompassing the whole Mediterranean Sea, in which Ancient Greek and [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) cultures merged into one [civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/civilization/). This civilization was so influential that parts of it survive in modern [law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/), administration, [philosophy](https://www.worldhistory.org/philosophy/) and arts, forming the ground that Western civilization is based upon. In its twelve-century existence, it transformed itself from monarchy to republic and finally to autocracy. In steady decline since the 2nd century CE, the empire finally broke into two parts in 285 CE: the [Western Roman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Western_Roman_Empire/) and the [Byzantine Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Empire/) in the East. The western part under the pressure of [Goths](https://www.worldhistory.org/Goths/) finally dissolved, leaving the Italian peninsula divided into small independent kingdoms and feuding [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) states for the next 14 centuries, and leaving the eastern part sole heir to the Roman legacy. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## About the Author Jan is the Founder & Chairman of World History Encyclopedia and is the organisation's Director of Design & Technology. He holds an MA War Studies from King's College, and he has worked in the field of history-related digital media since 2006. - [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/janvdc) ## Timeline - **800 BCE**: Beginning of the [Etruscan civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Etruscan_Civilization/) in [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). - **753 BCE**: The legendary founding date of [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). - **750 BCE - 510 BCE**: The (semi-mythological) seven kings of [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/): [Romulus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Romulus_and_Remus/), Numa Pompilius, Tulus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, [Lucius Tarquinius Superbus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Lucius_Tarquinius_Superbus/). - **c. 740 BCE - c. 433 BCE**: [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [poleis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/) or [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states establish colonies in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **c. 600 BCE**: [Paestum](https://www.worldhistory.org/Paestum/) is founded by colonists from Sybaris. - **509 BCE**: Foundation of the [Roman Republic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Republic/). - **498 BCE - 493 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) defeats the Latins. - **c. 410 BCE**: [Paestum](https://www.worldhistory.org/Paestum/) is attacked and conquered by the Lucanians. - **400 BCE**: [Celts](https://www.worldhistory.org/celt/) enter [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) and settle in the Po Valley. - **c. 398 BCE - c. 380 BCE**: [Plato](https://www.worldhistory.org/plato/) travels in [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/), [Cyrene](https://www.worldhistory.org/cyrene/), [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/), [Syracuse](https://www.worldhistory.org/syracuse/) and [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/). - **396 BCE**: [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) expansion begins with the capture of [Veii](https://www.worldhistory.org/Veii/) from the [Etruscans](https://www.worldhistory.org/Etruscan_Civilization/). - **391 BCE**: Senones besiege Clusium, an [Etruscan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Etruscan_Civilization/) [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/). - **343 BCE - 341 BCE**: First Samnite [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) ([Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) vs. Samnites). - **340 BCE - 338 BCE**: Latin [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/), victory for [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). - **326 BCE - 304 BCE**: Second Samnite [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/). - **300 BCE**: [Agathocles of Syracuse](https://www.worldhistory.org/Agathocles_of_Syracuse/) campaigns in [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) and captures Bruttium. - **285 BCE - 282 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) defeats the [Celts](https://www.worldhistory.org/celt/) in [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). Rome's dominance in central Italy is secured. - **280 BCE - 272 BCE**: [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) against [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/). [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) conquers Tarentum. Rome's dominance in lower [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) is secured. - **223 BCE**: Romans successfully campaign against [Celtic](https://www.worldhistory.org/celt/) tribes of Cisalpine [Gaul](https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/). - **c. 177 BCE**: The [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) colony of Luna founded in northern [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/), as a millitary stronghold. - **89 BCE**: All [poleis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/) or [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) come under [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) control. - **167 CE**: Marcomanni sack [Aquileia](https://www.worldhistory.org/aquileia/). - **488 CE - 493 CE**: [Theodoric the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theodoric_the_Great/) of the [Ostrogoths](https://www.worldhistory.org/ostrogoth/) conquers [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). - **535 CE**: [Belisarius](https://www.worldhistory.org/Belisarius/)' first campaign against the [Ostrogoths](https://www.worldhistory.org/ostrogoth/) in [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). - **535 CE - 554 CE**: The Gothic [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) launched by Emperor [Justinian I](https://www.worldhistory.org/Justinian_I/), aimed at reconquering [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) from the [Goths](https://www.worldhistory.org/Goths/). - **536 CE - 562 CE**: The [Byzantine Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Empire/) conquers [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). - **568 CE - 582 CE**: [Lombards](https://www.worldhistory.org/Lombards/) invade northern [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). ## Cite This Work ### APA Crabben, J. v. d. (2011, April 28). Italy. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Crabben, Jan van der. "Italy." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 28, 2011. . ### MLA Crabben, Jan van der. "Italy." *World History Encyclopedia*, 28 Apr 2011, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/ "User Page: Jan van der Crabben"), published on 28 April 2011. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.