Abstract
Italy is a country less than half the size of Texas, but with a colossal influence on the world. Though politically fragmented for centuries, Italy became the cultural center of the Western world from the 13th to the 16th century and continues to be a net cultural exporter. For example, Italy’s cuisine has been experienced by more people worldwide than any other save Chinese cuisine. The paradox is that there really is no typical Italian dish, as its dishes are as varied as its people, language, and politics.
There are a number of centrifugal forces at work threatening the stability of Italy’s union, which occurred relatively recently by western European standards. Though officially united in 1861, the 20 different regions of Italy are not only autonomous, but also quite competitive between each other. To add to the challenge, there are two enclaves within Italy’s borders, San Marino, Europe’s oldest existing republic, and Vatican City which is owned and governed by the Roman Catholic Church and actually located within Rome.
In addition, the northern regions of Italy are considerably more developed than those of the southern regions, which resemble Mexico and other similar industrializing countries. Separated geographically and influenced by varying cultures, the northern regions, located more strategically near powerful and wealthy European states, developed in a similar fashion as these states. The southern regions, however, were affected by a set of completely unique variables. Through time, Italy became a dichotomous state; the prosperous North versus the rural South. This essay will discuss the contributing factors to this dichotomy including the historic, geographic, political, economic, and cultural factors. Immigration’s role will also be addressed, as it is increasingly important.
The Geographic Factors
A peninsula located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy has a rough topography. The Apennine Mountains run down the center of the country vertically, while the Alps make up the northern border horizontally. Together, they make up 70 percent of Italy’s terrain.
Italy also boasts 7,600 km of coastline. Depending on the region, natural hazard risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and flooding, as well as land subsidence in Venice.
With its unpatrollable borders and many hiding areas, the geography of the country leaves it vulnerable to criminal activity and illegal immigration as well.
Because of its position in the Mediterranean, Italy has been conquered and occupied numerous times over its history; each time helping to shape regional uniqueness. These influences include Africa, Greece, Spain, France and Albania in the south; Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and of course France again in the north; and Eastern Europe and Slovenia in the east. Even older influences include the Normans, the Arabs and of course the Romans. Each of these left an indelible imprint on Italian culture and life.
One of Italy’s most popular exports, food is a great example of the diversity caused by Italy’s geography. It is very regionalized in Italy. In the north where cattle and dairy farming are prevalent, you find boiled meats, parmigiano and butter based dishes (evidence of the French and German influence), while towards the south you find an increase in olive oil, tomatoes and of course fresh fish. Naples is the home of pizza while Piedmont is home to vermicelli rice, white truffles and fonduta. Though pasta is considered a staple, there are over 300 varieties of it and equally as many ways to prepare it depending on what is found locally from region to region. Why local? The Apennines hinder inter-regional trade. This was especially true in Italy’s early days when villages were establishing themselves and connectivity was not what it is now. Even today it is a challenge to cross the Apennines between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas using the present roadway system. The resultant map is one made up of small communities with farms, recipes, and cooking methods that have developed in relative isolation for hundreds of years.
The Historic Factor
A brief history of the unification of Italy is in order so as to better understand the multitude of centrifugal forces at work in the Italian Republic. For over 3000 years, the Italian populace has endured various occupations, conquests, and regime changes.
Before 1861, Italy consisted of separate city-states and regions, relatively segregated from each other geographically due to the Apennines running down its spine. As mentioned before, though the resultant isolated pockets of valleys surrounded by mountains and sea made villages and regions difficult to access, the central location of Italy in the Mediterranean, its access to Western Europe, as well as its not being unified, put Italy in the position of being conquered and dominated by various European interests, namely France, Germany and Austria in the north and the Greeks, Arabs and Spanish in the south. These periods of domination helped to shape Italy, increasing the differences between the north and south and between regions based on occupation of the region by foreign interests.
