Italy

History of Italy

The territory of Italy was populated by about 500,000 years ago, that is, at the end of the Lower Paleolithic. It was originally inhabited by Neanderthals, who coexisted for some time with our view of hominids. The most important cultures lived during the Neolithic. These were: Kamuna, Teramare, Culture of Vilanova castle culture. It is also worth mentioning the prehistoric culture of Kanegrate and Remedello.

The shape of the peninsula in prehistoric times was very different from today. The alternation of ice ages and temperate climate led to a significant change, climate and geography. In the coldest periods, such as the Island of Elba, and Sicily were united with the Italian peninsula. Adriatic Italian coast bathed in the latitude of the Gargano, and the rest of the territory, now submerged under water, was a fertile valley with a humid climate.

The presence of Neanderthal man is proved by archaeological finds dating back approximately 50,000 years. In Italy, however, that evidence was found, compared with continental Europe, not many, and they all belong to the Late Pleistocene. In total there are about twenty, and the most significant has been found in caves near the town of Guattari San Felice Circeo (territory of the Park of Circeo ). Other important findings were made in the grotto Breuil (in the same Circeo), in the grotto Fumane (in the province of Verona) and in the grotto of San Bernardino (in the province of Vicenza) (Machiavelli, pp. 58).

Modern man has come to the Italian territory in the Upper Palaeolithic: examples of Aurignacian culture age 34,000 years were discovered in a grotto Fumane.

In the late Paleolithic period the sea level rises, and large plains are flooded. Climate, plant and animal populations are changing. The name "Italy" was originally worn only a small part of the people of Italy or Italians (F ?ta???, vituli, hence oskskoe Vitellium), occupies the southern extremity Bruttiuma to Skilakskogo bays and maternal (the name was first mentioned in regintsa Gipnisa ca. 500 BC. E., but to write and pronounce the words digamma points to its antiquity). Soon the name of Italy was distributed to the entire Gross to p. Lai and the area was Metanonta.

When there was a story about their common origin with the Greeks, began to call Italy and the country occupied by them. Already in a contract 241 to Carthage for Italy refers to the entire peninsula to the Rubicon, and in the name of the next century is stronger for the whole country to the Alps. Alps became part of Italy only when Diocletian, when the 11 regions, which are divided Italy in August, were still attached three.

The Greeks and after them the Romans, the country bore other names, as ?spe??a, ??s???a, ?p???, ????t??a. The northern part of Italy - the valley of the river by four inhabited in ancient times, people: the Ligurians, Gauls, rety and Venetia. The area in the age of August first occupied the ridge, which stretches along the Gulf of Genoa and the province ...