chapter 17 section 2 Italy

Chapter 17 sec.2
Italy
Italy
The giant boot in the Mediterranean Sea
People and Environment
Italy is formed around the Apennine Mountains
The Range begins in the Northwest and arcs all the way down the Italian Peninsula
Highest peas are 10,000 feet above sea level
They cover much to the peninsula
Has a narrow coastal plain that is the only flat land

Young mountain range with a lot of seismic activity
The Aeolian Island off the southern toe of Italy and the island of Sicily have had recent volcanic eruptions
Sicily’s Mount Etna erupted in 2001
Environmental Change
The Alps run from east to west across the entire northern boundary of Italy
The tall peaks block the moisture from the North Atlantic
Italy’s climate is Mediterranean with hot and dry summers and mild wet winters
Soil has eroded on the hillsides from overgrazing of sheep and goats
Italy relied heavily on agriculture as late as 1960 with 1/3 of the population working on farms
Only 10% of the population work in agriculture
Migration
Population of 58 million
Populated are very crowded due to the mountainous land
High unemployment in the rural areas
Since WWII many people have migrated from poor southern regions to the northern provinces to find jobs
Economic Activities
The Italian government has encouraged development in recent years
Automobiles, home appliances, and other metal goods
Helped form the European Union – helped its economy by reaching a larger market
The Regions of Italy
After the fall of the Roman Empire the country became a lot of little separate political units
Christianity spared and the Roman Catholic Church gained control over large amounts of land
In 1861 the states in the northern part of the peninsula joined together to form the country of Italy and the others joined within a decade
Striking differences exist among its regions
Distinct local character in smaller regions
Easley divided into three large sections
Northern, central and southern Italy
Northern Italy
Called European Italy – located close the rest of Europe
Resemble central
European countries more than the other provinces
Heart of northern Italy is the Po River Valley
A broad plain between the Alps and Apennines
Po River Valley
Italy’s most productive agricultural area
Wheat and rice
Important center of commercial industry
2/3 of Italy’s factories
Industrial development focused on the cities of Milan and Turin
Hydroelectricity from rives in the Alps power the factories
Genoa is now a thriving port city

Ski resorts in the Alps
Dairy farms

Flooding around Venice has stunted the agricultural industry
Venice faces problems of pollution and subsidence
Geological phenomenon in which the ground in an area sinks
Venice is popular with tourist
Was built in the late Middle Ages by Venetian traders
Central Italy
Consist of Rome and the surrounding regions
Once controlled by the Roman Catholic Church
In late 1800’s chosen as the capital
1. location was central
2. was the capital of the Roman Empire and its history symbolized the past glory
The ruins of the Colosseum still stand
The forum is still there were the public meetings were held
Vatican City is with in the city of Rome
Less than 1 square mile
World headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church
Less than one thousand people live in Vatican City
Many visitors to St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums
Bologna is a leading agricultural center know for its variety of foods
Florence is a cultural center
Michelangelo and other Italian painters during the Renaissance
Renaissance started in Italy in 1300’s and spread to Europe
Southern Italy
Known as the Mezzogiorno -midday
And includes the islands of Sicily and Sardinia
This region has an intense noontime sun
Poor soil and outdated farming techniques make agriculture not profitable
Some heavy industries came after WWII
Many migrated to northern Italy

Some southern Italians have moved to Naples the largest city in the region
Port city has some of the worst poverty in Europe