For 60 years, liberal governments ruled Italy while in its capital, Rome, four successive popes isolated the Vatican as an outpost of conservatism.

Apr 6, 2011 – Brenda Ralph Lewis

After revolution swept across Europe in 1848-1849, Pope Pius IX isolated the Vatican - and himself - from the new liberal kingdom of united Italy.

Apr 4, 2011 – Brenda Ralph Lewis

On March 17, 2011, Italy will celebrate 150 years of unity. The country united in 1861 was not a republic, but the Kingdom of Italy.

Mar 16, 2011 – Valerie Wilson

Whether or not Amanda Knox is a murderer is arguable. However, she may be guilty of stirring up anti-American sentiment in Italy.

Mar 13, 2011 – Diane Evans

Isabella d'Este, Marchioness of Mantua, (1474-1539) knew a status symbol when she saw one. In those days, the lemon tree was expensive and rare.

Mar 6, 2011 – Corbitt Nesta

Flamboyant, ruthless and ambitious Italian Blackshirt leader Italo Balbo was considered the heir apparent to Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

Feb 23, 2011 – Ivan Castro

Most people think Italian history dates back to the Roman Empire. But this year is only the 150th anniversary of Italy as a nation.

Feb 18, 2011 – James Sajo

An article comparing and contrasting the unifications of Italy and Germany during the 1870's.

Feb 15, 2011 – Acadia Otlowski

The Risorgiemento led to upheavals and changes in Italian society. Fascism was born from the political inertia to deal with those changes.

Jan 20, 2011 – Michel Amyot

After the Great War, D'Annunzio became a charismatic figure among the Italian Nationalists. His ideas of governement would be adopted by Mussolini.

Jan 15, 2011 – Michel Amyot

For a taste of ancient Greek and Roman history in one beautiful, natural setting, travelers to Italy should not overlook Paestum.

Dec 31, 2010 – E.E. Mazier

Born into privilege, and having married into a powerful family, Isabella d'Este was, as we would say today, "connected" and for a very long time.

Oct 31, 2010 – Corbitt Nesta

Italy tried desperately to revolt against the Spanish Habsburg Empire circa 17th century.

Sep 28, 2010 – Marquis Canaday

Giacomo Casanova, the great lover, was imprisoned in most of the countries he visited, but this was not only for seducing other men's wives.

Jul 29, 2010 – Brenda Ralph Lewis

St Paul of the Cross was an 18th-century Catholic mystic from Italy and the founder of the Passionist Congregation.

Jul 6, 2010 – Rumyana Mokanova

Italian Fascism claimed that it had created a successful alternative to capitalist-liberal democracy and socialist-Marxist communism, to great exaggeration.

Jul 3, 2010 – Daniel Cunningham

The infamous Nine Circles of Hell are not part of the canon of any Christian denomination, but are the product of a Middle Ages Italian poet's imagination.

Jun 28, 2010 – Ivan Castro

A brief history of Italian unification is presented. The situation of the South is discussed and what might have happened should there not have been unity.

Jun 18, 2010 – Richard Brereton

Fascism, known internationally as the hard right movements that took over the governments of Italy, Germany and other countries int the 1920's and '30's

Jun 13, 2010 – Daniel Cunningham

Once as opulent as Venice, Torcello thrived on trade with the Byzantine Empire until environmental hazard and disease wiped out its prosperity and people.

Jun 4, 2010 – Natasha Sheldon