Italy played a key role in shaping the modern world. The great rulers of the Roman Empire hail from Italy. Modern Italy did not exist till 1861. Until then, this region had small provinces spread across the Italian peninsula.
Amid the country’s numerous small cities and states, the city of Rome remained pre-eminent because it was the centre of the Roman Catholic Church. After a series of wars against the rulers led by Mazzini and Garibaldi, these provinces united to form the kingdom of Italy in 1861.
The United Kingdom of Italy took a different turn when Benito Mussolini, a fascist dictator gained power. He led Italy to the Second World War. In 1947, after Mussolini’s era, Italy became a democratic republic.
Picture Credit : Google
