Italian Peninsula

By Italian Peninsula
  • Founding of Rome (753 B.C.)
    200

    Founding of Rome (753 B.C.)

    Rome becomes the cultural and religious center of the western world.
  • Lombards invade Italy ending Byzantine Rule
    572

    Lombards invade Italy ending Byzantine Rule

    Weakened the early Italian empires under the rule of Alboin, expelled last Roman Empires.
  • Marco Polo explores Asia
    May 16, 1266

    Marco Polo explores Asia

    Marco Polo explores Asia and brings treasures back to Europe. Inspires Christopher Columbus to sail across the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Black Death Pandemic
    Jun 4, 1348

    Black Death Pandemic

    The Black Death pandemic made millions flee, wiping out a thrid of Italy's population. This significantly reduced Italy's population and moral.
  • Birth of Leonardo DeVinci
    Apr 15, 1452

    Birth of Leonardo DeVinci

    Leonardo DeVinci inspires inventors and artists for years to come. Improves European technology.
  • Knights of Malta repel Ottoman invaders
    May 22, 1565

    Knights of Malta repel Ottoman invaders

    Knights of Malta fought Ottoman invaders which protected Europe from the Ottoman armies.
  • Constitution of San Marino Drafted

    Constitution of San Marino Drafted

    The Constitution drafted created the goverment system of parliamentery republic, forming the first democracy since Roman and Greek times.
  • Napoleon Bonaparte conquers Northern Italy

    Napoleon Bonaparte conquers Northern Italy

    Napoleon Bonaparte conquers Northern Italy, unifies Northern Italy under French rule.
  • Creation of Italy

    Creation of Italy

    Unified the surrounding kingdoms, creating Italy. Stablized the southern regions of Europe.
  • Italian forces recapture Rome

    Italian forces recapture Rome

    Rome becomes the capital of Italy to present day, becomes the center of a unified Italy
  • Italy joins Triple Alliance

    Italy joins Triple Alliance

    Italy joins Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Causes them to join WWI on the German side. Causes many losses in the war.
  • Italy secretly signs Treaty of London

    Italy secretly signs Treaty of London

    Italy promised to leave the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria Hungary, Italy) and join the Triple Entente (France, Britain, United States). This caused a shift of power in WWI
  • Treaty of Versailles

    Treaty of Versailles

    Italy is not given the lands it was promised in the Treaty of London, leads to a facist revolution in Italy. Causes them to join WWII on the German side.
  • Mussolini comes to power

    Mussolini comes to power

    Mussolini takes Italy from being a second-tier country to being a world power.
  • Period: to

    Reign of Benito Mussolini

    29 July 1883 – 28 April 1945
  • Vatican City created by Lateran Treaty

    Vatican City created by Lateran Treaty

    The Lateran Treaty, signed by Italy and the Holy See, created Vatican City as a city-state. This treaty formed the smallest independent state in the world, while also being the least populous.
  • Italy becomes a Republic

    Italy becomes a Republic

    Referendum votes Italy to become a Republic after Allied occupation of Italy. Establishes democracy up to present day.
  • Europeon Euro replaces Italian Lira

    Europeon Euro replaces Italian Lira

    Brings Italy into the Europeon Union, eventually causes them to be effected by the Europeon Debt Crisis.
  • Burscoloni elected president

    Burscoloni elected president

    Begins Burscoloni reign of corruption, weakens Italy politically and economically
  • Europeon Debt Crisis causes Prime Minister to step down

    Europeon Debt Crisis causes Prime Minister to step down

    Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi steps down from office, replaced by Mario Monti in hopes of reducing Italian debt.
  • Fall of Rome

    Fall of Rome

    Ostrogoths sack Rome, destroying the Western Roman Empire. This fractures Italy for years to come.