Page:NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 17; ITALY; COUNTRY PROFILE CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080001-6.pdf/22

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080001-6

Chronology (u/ou)

1300-1500
 * Renaissance evolves in city-states of northern Italy; it sets up for the modern age the ideal of the many-talented one, symbolized by the matchless Leonardo da Vinci. Great artistic and intellectual outpouring starting with the 11th century precursors Giotio (architect, sculptor, painter) and Petrarch (humanist, writer) and essentially culminating with Da Vinci, Michelangelo (painter, architect, poet), Palestrina (composer) and Machiavelli (political philosopher).

1550-1795
 * With the conquest of the flourishing city-states of the north by the Holy Roman Empire and France, all Italy brought under foreign domination. Nonetheless, culture flowers remarkably in 17th and 18th centuries.

1796-1811
 * Napoleonic armies bring Italy under control of French Empire, and various enlightened reforms are introduced, especially in law and government administration.

1815-1848
 * Italy mainly under Austrian domination after Congress of Vienna reimposes rule of the old regimes. Abrogation of liberal Napoleonic reforms accompanied by abusive repression sparks Risorgimento, movement of Italian liberation, reform, and national unification.

1848-1870
 * Revolution of 1848 fails throughout Italy, but establishes Piedmontese leadership of the Risorgimento. Kingdom of Italy proclaimed at Torino in 1861; in 1870, Rome was finally seized from the Papacy and made the national capital.

1870-1910s
 * Kingdom of Italy characterized by continued neglect of the impoverished south, inability to develop a viable economic base, failure to bring bulk of population into national life. In 1880s only about 10% of adult males eligible to vote as compared to 25% in the United Kingdom and nearly 100% in France; in 1911 half of population still illiterate. In this period, over 5,500,000 Italians, nearly one-fifth of mean population emigrate, principally to North and South America, because of Italy's seriously lagging economic development.

1892-1893
 * Years of widespread government corruption highlighted by Bank of Rome scandal, in which the bank director Tonlongo issued millions in duplicate bank notes but won acquittal in court after involving numerous editors and officials including even Prime Minister Giolitti. Tonlongo's acquittal greatly offends public opinion.

1896
 * Effort to conquer Ethiopia, Italy's most ambitious colonial adventure, ends in disaster at Adowa with 7,000 killed out of the 10,000-man Italian force.

1915
 * May
 * Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary and Germany, its former allies, having announced its neutrality in August 1914 and subsequently bargained with both sides for territorial gains; action publicly justified in terms of Italy's mero egoismo or national self-interest.

1917
 * October-December
 * Italy suffers disastrous defeat at Caporetto, losing 300,000 prisoners and another 300,000 deserters. Austro-German forces advance to Piave River.

1919
 * June-October
 * By peace treaties of Versailles and Saint-Germain Italy acquires South Tyrol with 250,000 ethnic Germans; Istria, Trieste, Gorizin, and part of the Dalmatian Coast, about 9,000 square miles with a population of 1,000,000; Italy also gets share of German war reparations and becomes member of Executive Council of the League of Nations. Both government and public opinion dissatisfied with such "spoils" from a war in which 160,000 were killed and 917,000 wounded.
 * November
 * First national elections with universal manhood suffrage; Socialists secure largest number of legislative seats.

1922
 * October
 * "March on Rome" 28 October by the Fascists and beginning of 21-year dictatorship; Mussolini forms cabinet of Fascists and Nationalists.

1924
 * June
 * Murder of influential Socialist Deputy Giacomo Matteotti by the Fascists.

1929
 * February
 * Mussolini signs the Lateran Pact with the Papacy on 11 February, creating Vatican City as an independent state. Concordat regulates activities of the Roman Catholic Church in Italy and government pays the Holy See large indemnity.

1931
 * Unity-of-action pact between exiled Socialists and Communists.

1935-1936
 * October-May
 * Italy conquers and annexes Ethiopia, despite economic sanctions imposed by League of Nations.

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080001-6