Magna Graecia in Southern Italy
Since prehistoric times, Southern Italy has been a hub of human settlements. In the 7th century BC, it emerged as a vital center of Greek civilization through Hellenic colonies along its coastal regions. The Greeks, lured by the area’s fertile lands and strategic trade positioning, established multiple colonies under the collective term “Magna Graecia” or ‘Great Greece’.
The earliest Greek colony on the Italian mainland was Cumae, founded around the 7th century BC. Settlers from Cumae went on to establish new cities like Neapolis, known today as Naples. Another significant Greek colony in Southern Italy was Siracusa (Syracuse, Sicily), renowned as the birthplace of Archimedes, a city that rivaled Athens in size during the 5th century BC.
Noteworthy Greek settlements included Thurii, where the esteemed historian Herodotus retired; Elea, the birthplace of the Eleatics, a pre-Socratic school of philosophy; Tarentum, founded by the Spartans; and Croton, where the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras initiated an ethico-political community, and where the renowned 6th-century BC athlete Milo was born.
Travelers exploring Sicily today can witness the enduring Greek influence on the island through landmarks like Agrigento’s Valle dei Templi, Segesta’s Greek temple and ancient theatre, and the Greek ruins scattered throughout Syracuse.
The Roman Empire
Magna Graecia loosely represented an ’empire’ where unity was absent, characterized by shared language and culture among colonies. This lack of centralized power proved detrimental when confronted by more organized entities like the Roman Empire, emerging from a humble beginning in Rome.
By the 3rd century BC, Sicily became Rome’s initial province, paving the way for Roman domination over southern Italy. The Romans swiftly exploited Sicily’s resources, imposing the Roman tithe requiring a tenth of its agricultural yield to be sent to Rome annually.
Despite Roman rule lasting for centuries, Southern Italy remained predominantly Greek in language and customs. The Romans, with a profound appreciation for Greek culture, allowed the territories in the southern peninsula to preserve their Hellenic identity largely unaltered.
The Roman Empire Falls, Foreign Powers Enter
The fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, marked by pressure from the Goths, saw the rise of Odoacer, a Germanic warrior, who seized power in Southern Italy. Following his demise, the Ostrogoths assumed control before making way for the Byzantine Empire’s eastern arm from Constantinople.
In the ensuing centuries, the Byzantine Empire faced challenges from various foreign powers like the Lombards and the Arabs, triggering a tumultuous period in Italy as the peninsula fragmented into independent kingdoms and rival city-states.
Meanwhile, to the west, Charlemagne of the Franks was anointed as the “Emperor of the Romans” by Pope Leo III in 800 AD, establishing the Holy Roman Empire and extending his rule over Western and Central Europe, including parts of Italy.
Although Southern Italy eluded Frankish rule, it eventually succumbed to the Arabs. In the 9th century, the Islamic caliphate assumed control, instituting the Emirate of Sicily with Palermo as its hub, transforming churches into mosques and enforcing Arabic as the primary language. The Arab dominion over the island endured for over two centuries.
The Normans, descendants of Vikings who settled in northern France, entered Southern Italy initially as mercenaries supporting rival factions and later as autonomous conquerors aiming to establish their own domains.
In a strategic move, Pope Nicholas II, amid tensions with the Holy Roman Empire, allied with the Normans and engaged in conflict against a rival Pope (Benedict X) to secure his position. By 1059, he appointed Robert de Hauteville, also known as ‘Robert Guiscard’ (guiscard meaning ‘cunning’ in Old French), as the Duke of Apulia and Calabria, designating him as the ‘future lord of Sicily’. In return, Guiscard pledged allegiance as a vassal to Rome.
Guiscard and his brother, Roger Bosso, participated in the siege of Palermo against the Arabs, a pivotal confrontation that culminated in the Normans establishing complete dominion over Southern Italy by the 11th century.
‘Two Sicilies’
Robert Guiscard divided Sicily among his brother Roger, who later became Roger I, granting him the title of Count in 1071. Over time, Roger I expanded his control, uniting the entirety of Sicily and Malta by 1091. These territories were then amalgamated with Robert’s duchy, consolidating the foundation of the influential Kingdom of Sicily that exerted supremacy over Southern Italy. Roger I’s son, Roger II, ascended to the throne after being crowned King of Sicily by the Pope on Christmas Day in 1130.
The Norman lineage reached its pinnacle with Roger II’s daughter, Constance, who wedded Henry VI of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, resulting in the birth of Frederick II. Under Frederick II’s reign, the Hohenstaufen dynasty expanded its dominion through strategic alliances and conquests, extending its power from Southern Italy to encompass territories in Germany and even Jerusalem.
Following Frederick II’s demise, the Hohenstaufen dynasty came to an end, paving the way for Charles of Anjou, brother of French King Louis IV, to seize control of the kingdom. Charles’s authoritarian governance incited a popular uprising known as the Sicilian Vespers, sparked by an event in Palermo on Easter Monday in 1282. This rebellion led to Sicily’s separation from the mainland, ultimately falling under the rule of the Spanish House of Aragon, who actively supported the revolt to wrest control from the French.
Subsequently, the once-unified kingdom splintered into “two Sicilies”: one governed by the House of Aragon and the other, known as the “Kingdom of Naples” by modern scholars to differentiate it from the Spanish-ruled “Kingdom of Sicily,” ruled by the House of Anjou. During the ongoing conflicts between Sicily and Naples, the local barons amassed increasing influence, solidifying feudalism as the predominant social system in both realms.
In 1442, Naples succumbed to Alfonso V of Aragon, the ruler of Sicily, who assumed the title “King of the Two Sicilies” in 1443, a designation that persisted through his lineage in the ensuing years.
Italian Unification
In the 19th century, after enduring occupations by the French and Austrians, Italy embarked on the Risorgimento movement, advocating for unity and independence. This led to the birth of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, with Victor Emmanuel II being crowned as its first monarch. His pivotal conquest of Rome in 1871 solidified the country’s unification, marking the city as the new capital following transitions from Turin and Florence.
In 1946, Italy democratically transitioned into a republic through a referendum, prompting Victor Emmanuel’s son, Umberto, to relinquish the throne. Despite these historical milestones, Italy’s unity continues to evolve. The delineation between Northern and Southern Italy persists, exemplified by the Lega (formerly the Northern League) advocating for regional autonomy. Economic disparages between the regions have led to a trend of young Southerners migrating north in search of better prospects, reminiscent of the mass emigration of impoverished Southern Italians to the United States in the late 19th century.
Notwithstanding the challenges, Southern Italy harbours pockets of optimism and growth. Matera, a once impoverished town in Basilicata, transformed its fortunes remarkably. From being among Italy’s poorest areas, Matera ascended to the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture for 2019, showcasing the region’s resilience and potential for revitalization.
Travelling to Southern Italy
Travellers seeking a more laid-back pace (and a thinner holiday crowd) fly to Southern Italy to bask in its sunshine, try its diverse cuisine, and view its historic sites.
Let’s look at some of the hidden gems you can visit in Southern Italy.