Why go
The most useful thread is the shift in power from one place to another. Greek colonies shaped Sicily and the south; Rome shaped the peninsula and beyond; maritime and inland cities later built wealth; Florence and Rome became Renaissance centres.
The full story
In Sicily and southern Italy, Greek colonies formed part of what became known as Magna Graecia. Rome began as one community among many and eventually ruled around the Mediterranean. After the western empire fell, the peninsula was divided among new powers, including the Lombards, Byzantines and papacy. Medieval towns gained autonomy; Venice, Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi prospered through maritime trade. Florence built influence through commerce and banking. The Renaissance drew on classical texts as well as the resources of wealthy patrons. Florence’s Medici and the papacy in Rome sponsored work that still shapes both cities. From the late 15th century, larger European powers competed for influence over Italian states. Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars later changed political ideas and institutions. Unification arrived in the 19th century, followed by a monarchy, dictatorship, war and a republic. This timeline is most useful when paired with places: Greek sites in the south, ancient Rome, the merchant cities and Renaissance Florence each reveal a different period.