jjares reviewed Italian History: A Captivating Guide to the History of Italy and Rome on + 3278 more book reviews
HISTORY OF ITALY --
The region now known as Italy has had a very long history (starting during the Paleolithic Era -- from about 2.6 million to about 10,000 years ago). It is where the Mediterranean world connects Europe with the Far East through trade and migration. This overview states that the Adriatic Sea level was much lower then; thus Italian land that today is underwater was at one-time a larger area of fertile plains with lakes.
Many groups of peoples migrated across Italy over the generations and by the time of Emperor Octavian Augustus, Italy was considered to be the motherland, provinces were ruled by governors, and some Italian cities were considered to be Roman colonies. Italy was divided into 11 different regions, but Italy was not a unified country yet. One interesting concept of the times was that a soldier claimed two homelands -- Italy and the city where he was born.
Romans of Octavian's time only lived to about 35-years because of the high death rate due to nearly-constant wars and the high childhood mortality rates. Children rarely lived to reach 15-years.
The concept of empire changed in 330 CE, with Constantine the Great when he moved his capital to Constantinople and declared Christianity to be the official religion. Constantine's movement of the capital to the East caused the eventual decline of the Western Roman Empire. He gathered taxes from the Western Empire and used them for building and road construction in the East. Also, the lack of a standing army in Rome led to its sacking and ultimate fall.
In spite of the efforts of many groups, Italy was still not unified by the Middle Ages or even the early Renaissance. Different regions of Italy vied for ascendancy during the Renaissance. Rome fell into ruins during this period. The popes became corrupt and it led to various religious wars. However, the Enlightenment of the French philosophers eventually arrived in Italy and the people insisted that their foreign rulers rule for the benefit of the subjects.
Frankly, the last chapter and the conclusion did not offer a final resolution of Italy. One incredible fact was that Italy lost 1/3 of its population by the end of the first World War. A popular phrase describes the last 20 pages (or so). It was a "hot mess" that really hasn't been resolved with a totally unified Italy. Instead, the country is run as competitive regions, divided by their different cultures and languages and. dialects.
HISTORY OF ROME --
Captivating History starts the story of Rome with the mythological story (and variations) of the tale of Romulus and Remus. Then the author explains a different myth according to the famous Roman Virgil. Looking for archaeological evidence, they found a pastoral settlement as early as the 14th century BCE.
Small villages merged into city-states and an elite class emerged in the 7th century BCE. At this point, Rome was a monarchy with a king and was ruled by them for the first two-and-a-half-centuries. One fascinating fact is that early religion wasn't related to morality but to having a good relationship with gods and the city-state. Rituals and animal sacrifices were important.
The Roman monarchy fell about 509 BCE and was replaced with a republic. With this change, the city was the property of all its people, not just the king. In fact, anything having to do with 'kingship' was hated and scorned by the people of Rome. Consuls replaced the king; there were two and they could veto each other. They also kept each other in check and only led for a year.
The story of the various Roman consuls who eventually merged into Octavius becoming emperor sounds like a soap opera. Captivating History should be commended for encapsulating so much history in just a few pages. Part of the history of Rome is the story of the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire (centered in Constantinople). After the Western Roman Empire fell, the Byzantine Empire with Justinian I entered a significant phase.
However, 200 years of the Justinian Plague ravaged Europe and Asia Minor. After the formation of the Papal States, the two factions of the Catholic Church began long arguments that lead to the Great Schism (which has never been resolved). The pages explaining the wars between the pope and kings shows why our forefathers were so smart to keep religion and government separate.
The Renaissance, which influenced all aspects of life, inspired people to rediscover their history and study the idea of humanism. Renewed learning (and the printing press) allowed commoners to read the Bible themselves and interpret God's word on their own. Before long, people like Martin Luther were calling the Church out for abuses. Once the hole started in the dike, religion exploded and the Catholic Church lost its authority.
The region now known as Italy has had a very long history (starting during the Paleolithic Era -- from about 2.6 million to about 10,000 years ago). It is where the Mediterranean world connects Europe with the Far East through trade and migration. This overview states that the Adriatic Sea level was much lower then; thus Italian land that today is underwater was at one-time a larger area of fertile plains with lakes.
Many groups of peoples migrated across Italy over the generations and by the time of Emperor Octavian Augustus, Italy was considered to be the motherland, provinces were ruled by governors, and some Italian cities were considered to be Roman colonies. Italy was divided into 11 different regions, but Italy was not a unified country yet. One interesting concept of the times was that a soldier claimed two homelands -- Italy and the city where he was born.
Romans of Octavian's time only lived to about 35-years because of the high death rate due to nearly-constant wars and the high childhood mortality rates. Children rarely lived to reach 15-years.
The concept of empire changed in 330 CE, with Constantine the Great when he moved his capital to Constantinople and declared Christianity to be the official religion. Constantine's movement of the capital to the East caused the eventual decline of the Western Roman Empire. He gathered taxes from the Western Empire and used them for building and road construction in the East. Also, the lack of a standing army in Rome led to its sacking and ultimate fall.
In spite of the efforts of many groups, Italy was still not unified by the Middle Ages or even the early Renaissance. Different regions of Italy vied for ascendancy during the Renaissance. Rome fell into ruins during this period. The popes became corrupt and it led to various religious wars. However, the Enlightenment of the French philosophers eventually arrived in Italy and the people insisted that their foreign rulers rule for the benefit of the subjects.
Frankly, the last chapter and the conclusion did not offer a final resolution of Italy. One incredible fact was that Italy lost 1/3 of its population by the end of the first World War. A popular phrase describes the last 20 pages (or so). It was a "hot mess" that really hasn't been resolved with a totally unified Italy. Instead, the country is run as competitive regions, divided by their different cultures and languages and. dialects.
HISTORY OF ROME --
Captivating History starts the story of Rome with the mythological story (and variations) of the tale of Romulus and Remus. Then the author explains a different myth according to the famous Roman Virgil. Looking for archaeological evidence, they found a pastoral settlement as early as the 14th century BCE.
Small villages merged into city-states and an elite class emerged in the 7th century BCE. At this point, Rome was a monarchy with a king and was ruled by them for the first two-and-a-half-centuries. One fascinating fact is that early religion wasn't related to morality but to having a good relationship with gods and the city-state. Rituals and animal sacrifices were important.
The Roman monarchy fell about 509 BCE and was replaced with a republic. With this change, the city was the property of all its people, not just the king. In fact, anything having to do with 'kingship' was hated and scorned by the people of Rome. Consuls replaced the king; there were two and they could veto each other. They also kept each other in check and only led for a year.
The story of the various Roman consuls who eventually merged into Octavius becoming emperor sounds like a soap opera. Captivating History should be commended for encapsulating so much history in just a few pages. Part of the history of Rome is the story of the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire (centered in Constantinople). After the Western Roman Empire fell, the Byzantine Empire with Justinian I entered a significant phase.
However, 200 years of the Justinian Plague ravaged Europe and Asia Minor. After the formation of the Papal States, the two factions of the Catholic Church began long arguments that lead to the Great Schism (which has never been resolved). The pages explaining the wars between the pope and kings shows why our forefathers were so smart to keep religion and government separate.
The Renaissance, which influenced all aspects of life, inspired people to rediscover their history and study the idea of humanism. Renewed learning (and the printing press) allowed commoners to read the Bible themselves and interpret God's word on their own. Before long, people like Martin Luther were calling the Church out for abuses. Once the hole started in the dike, religion exploded and the Catholic Church lost its authority.
