User:Barneyyards

Prehistoric Italy
The land which today is known as Italy first originated around 500,000 years ago. It was first inhabited by Neanderthal men and possibly even Homo sapiens. In prehistoric times the land of Italy was much different such as the island of Sicily was attached to the main land.

Back in prehistoric Italy there was a group of people named the Apennine tribe. These people were herdsmen grazing their animals over the fields to keep them healthy. They lived in small hamlets up at the top of mountains so if an army or another tribe were to come and attack them they would have a better chance of survival. On the move between summer months they would build temporary camps or live in caves or rock shelters. They did not confine themselves just to the hills there pottery has been found in Rome and on the island of Sicily.

Another group found to live in Italy is the Camuni these group of people were Hunters, Sheppard’s and Farmers. They reached their height of power during the Iron Age in Italy. This group of people would have been known to carve things into rocks!!

Another group named the Nuraghe tribe. They were known to live in Italy in the Bronze Age. This group of people would be known as warriors and mariner people, they were also very religious people and there are places showing they kept holy water.

Rome
One of the most famous reigns of people that were involved in the history of Italy was the Romans. They invaded countries and created what was the Roman Empire. The Romans were very clever people and they invented things like straight roads which would get you somewhere faster than the usual roads and pathways of Europe. The most famous Roman emperor was probably Julio Caesar. Did you know that he had a very bad stutter, and that when he was born he was the first child born by caesarean and that is where the name came from? Another famous fact about the Romans is that they made one of the ancient wonders of the world, the coliseum. This was used for prisoners to fight to the death over one another so they could free themselves. In 2007 Rome was the 11th most visited city in the world and 3rd most visited in Europe. It was also the most visited attraction in Italy, and certain museums and attractions in Rome were in the top 50 most visited places by tourists.

Italian wars
The Italian wars were often referred to as the Great Italian wars and sometimes as the Hapsburg Valois wars. They were a series of battles that involved Italy, France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, England, Scotland and The Ottoman Empire. The way these battles would usually start is a fight over the kingdom of Naples. It then became a constant struggle for power, alliances, counter-alliances were often formed and often betrayals also. Heavy Calvary would have been used in these wars and ridden by a fully armoured medieval knight. The great Italian wars would often see field artillery which soon became an irreplaceable part of any successful army. They would often use weapons that the people used in the English civil war!!! By the end of the war Spain was known as the biggest and the best of Europe. Some of the states in Italy were completely destroyed!!

Italian art
Italian art is the visual arts in Italy from ancient times to present. Ancient Rome was a major contribution to Italian artists during the gothic and medieval periods. The arts flourished during the Italian Renaissance. Later styles in Italy included Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo, and Macchiaioli. Futurism developed in the 20th century. Florence is a well known city for its museums of art. Many Italian artists have produced work which has shaped the way artists in the world think about their work in more modern times. It has also made modern Italy what it is today.

Opera
Opera was born in Italy around the 1600’s. Opera is a play produced by people signing. There are no words and it is in Italian and sometimes French. Within a few months the Opera had spread all around Italy and to where it is commonly seen as today, Rome. This sort of play was often performed at special occasions such as wedding and funerals of the monarchy. Now opera is known all over the world.

Italian food
Food in Italy is very important to them, as you may know if you have been to Italy, they will serve up a banquette. Italian cuisine has developed over the centuries. Although the country known as Italy did not unite until the 19th century, the cuisine can claim traceable roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Through the centuries, neighboring regions, conquerors, high-profile chefs, political upheaval and the discovery of the New World have influenced one of the premiere cuisines in the world.

The main food types when it comes to Italian food are pasta rice and pizza. These are what the Italians do best and if you are ever in Italy I highly recommend them. Another group of ingredients which they use allot is tomatoes, olive oil, olives, cheese and herbs.

Pudding is a big thing in Italy one of the nicest ones in my opinion is tiramisu. This is a creamy coffee type of taste. --sam best 16:26, 1 April 2011 (UTC)Sam Best