| Throughout history, many different groups have occupied Italy, such as the Etruscans, Greeks, Byzantines, Lombards, Goths, Franks, Normans, Arabs, Germans, French, and Spanish. It has had a long history of wars, and political fragmentation. In 1861, Italy became a nation state when all its regions were finally united under King Victor Emmanuel. In 1866, the Veneto was obtained from the Austrians, and in 1870, Lazio and Rome were removed from the power of the Pope. They joined WWI late, but had victory nonetheless, and added the northeast territories, Tension rose, and in the early 1920s, it became a fascist dictatorship under Benito Mussolini, replacing the democracy. Mussolini believed that Germany was one step away from final vicory, so he joined him in the war in June 1940. The Italians were defeated in Greece, Cirenaica, and Ethiopia. In 1943, the Allies liberated Sicily and arrested Mussolini. In April, 1945, the Allies crossed the Po River, and liberated Bologna, Genoa, Milan, Venice, and Turin. Mussolini was executed April 28. In 1946, a democratic republic replaced the monarchy. The republic has put exceptional energy into rising from the ruins of war. Democracy has not faltered, despite political dissent, terrorism, and organized crime. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the European Monetary Union in 1999. Persistan problems include illegal immigration, the ravages of organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north. Today, despite a large public debt, Italy is among the major economic powers of the world. |