Italy 101

Italy has quite a history. Italy is one of Western Europe's youngest countries, but 13 of Shakespeare’s 38 plays are set in Italy.

Italian societies emerged about 1200 B.C. Then around 800 B.C. the Greeks settled in the south and the Etruscans rose to prominence in central Italy. Latin and Sabine people then merged to form a city-state called Rome.

Etruscan kings ruled Rome for a hundred years, but Romans exiled the Etruscans in 510 and conquered the entire peninsula. In 117 A.D., the Roman Empire stretched from Portugal to Syria and from Britain to North Africa.

In the 12th century, Italy again began to get rich through trade. But in 1859, an uprising forced the foreigners out, and in 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was formed.

In 1914, Italy took the side of the UK and the US in World War I, but was left in poverty by the end of the war. Benito Mussolini and the Fascist Party rose to power on the back of the promise to restore the Roman Empire. Mussolini ruled as dictator and entered World War II on the side of Germany and Japan but he was later captured and executed. After WWII the country voted to become a republic and King Umberto II ruled from 9 May to 12 June 1946 - just 36 days. He's known as the May King. 

Today, Italy boasts millions of visitors. It is the fifth most visited country in the world. Italy is also home to all 3 of Europe's active volcanoes as well as Vatican City, the world's smallest "country". And Italians invented eyeglasses. Also, the world's first bank was opened in Italy in around 1100 A.D.

The average age in Italy is 45.7 years, giving it Europe's oldest population. In world terms only Japan's population is older. And estimates suggest the average age in Italy will be 54 years by 2050. I like the idea of not being looked at like an invisible human due to my age, like what happens in the U.S.

That's all I know about Italy.  I'm looking forward to learning more.