Updated: March 2009
Italy
Overview | World Vision in Italy today
OverviewLocated in Southern Europe, the Italian Republic is a long, boot-shaped peninsula extending south into the Mediterranean Sea, toward Africa. To the north, it is bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. The Adriatic Sea forms Italy’s eastern coastline, and the Tyrrhenian Sea lies to the west. The southeast is bordered by the Ionian Sea, which lies between Italy and Greece. Of the many islands owned by Italy, Sicily—in the southeast, off the tip of the boot—and Sardenia—off the western coastline—are the largest. With the Alps in the north and the Apennines running through the center, Italy’s terrain is predominantly mountainous with occasional plains and coastal lowlands. With a generally Mediterranean climate, Italy experiences colder extremes in the north and hot, dry weather in the south. Natural resources include coal, mercury, zinc, marble, asbestos, pumice, pyrite, natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, and arable land. |  |
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| With the fifth highest population density in Europe, Italy has small representations of Germans, French, Slovenes, Albanians, and Greeks. While Italian is the official language, some of these minority groups continue to speak their own languages. In recent years, population growth has decreased, as emigration increases and birth rates slow. Greeks and Romans who settled present-day Italy in the sixth and seventh centuries B.C. eventually united to form the Roman Republic. In the third century B.C., this group gained control of the surrounding islands, expanding their influence and building an empire. By early in the first century, present-day Italy dominated the Mediterranean under the leadership of the Roman Empire. The powerful Roman Empire lasted until the fifth century, when its collapse left Italy unstable and vulnerable to invasion. In 1861, following multiple wars and the Renaissance (14th 15th and 16th centuries), a period in which Italian literature, music, and art profoundly influenced the world, Victor Emmanuel II was established as king of a reunited Italy—minus Rome. With the incorporation of Rome in 1870, Italy officially became a united constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. This form of government lasted until 1922 when Dictator Benito Mussolini obtained power, ridding the country of political parties. Mussolini’s downfall came during World War II with the invasion of the Allies in 1943 and his execution two years later. Following the signing of an armistice in 1943, Italy fought the remainder of the war on the side of the Allies. As peace treaties were made following the conclusion of the war, the monarchy was abolished, and in 1946, Italy was established as a democratic republic. Today, the country is a member of the G-8, NATO, and the European Union. Italy’s economy once depended heavily on agriculture, but following World War II, this trend saw a dramatic shift as the country became increasingly industrialized. Tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, and other industries now account for nearly 30 percent of the gross domestic product. With few agricultural resources, Italy imports the majority of its food, energy, and raw materials. The northern population, where industries are centered, is generally more prosperous than the south where the small agricultural sector is located, and unemployment is as high as 20 percent. Though Italy ranks as the world’s sixth largest market economy, growth has been slow in recent years, and the government faces tremendous debt. Overall, Italians maintain a relatively high standard of living, though there are areas of poverty in the less-developed south. More than 60 percent of the population pursues higher education beyond secondary school, and the average Italian receives 15.9 years of schooling. Back to top World Vision in Italy todayWorld Vision is making preparations to open a new support office in Rome, Italy, in 2009. Check back for more information.Back to top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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