International BusinessChapter 2: Cultural and Social InfluencesWorld Market Passport
The Environment Italy is on the northern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Much of its land consists of a boot-shaped peninsula off of southern Europe into the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Sicily as well as many small islands are also part of Italy. A variety of beautiful landscapes and topography covers the country. Most of Italy experiences sunshine and a mild Mediterranean climate. History Italy was the center of the ancient Roman Empire, which united the nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea and spread the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome throughout Europe. After the Roman Empire collapsed in the 5th century A.D., Italy's political unity ended. However, Rome (under the Catholic Church) remained the spiritual center of Western Europe. In the late Middle Ages, northern Italian cities, such as Florence, Venice, and Milan, became prosperous commercial centers where the Renaissance began in the 14th century. During this time, Italian Renaissance painters, sculptors, writers, and architects were admired and imitated in Europe. By 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was formed. After World War II in 1946, that monarchy ended, and the Italian Republic was established. Since then Italy has had many governments, dominated by the center-right and opposed by the left. Culture and People Rome is the capital and largest city of Italy, but many of Italy's towns and cities possess artistic treasures and relics of Italy's cultural heritage. The country can be divided into the urban north and the mostly rural south. Most of Italy's larger cities and population are in the industrialized north. The agricultural south has a smaller population and a more limited economy. Most of the Italian population is native-born. The majority of the people speak Italian. Click to hear the music of Italy.
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