A History of Italy

Special episode 04 – 8th September 1943, from infamy to resistance

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the armistice between the Italian government and the allied forces we look at the fateful day the armistice was announced and the consequences for the Italian forces and people.

028 – The year 1000 and life for the average Giuseppe

After our recap episode, we take a look at the attitudes towards the year 1000 and have a look at what daily life was like for people around that year.

NC 003 – Identity crisis of a Brexit victim

We explore the concept of national identity and pride and look at additive rather than subtractive human pride.

Recap 02 – episodes 014 – 027

In this recap episode we look back over the period from the fall of the Lombard kingdom at the hands of Charlemagne in 774 to the year 1000.

NewsCappuccino 002 – On the possible third Italian republic and unity

A look at the paper is an opportunity to explain the make-up of the current government and prompts consideration about the state of Italian unity today.

NewsCappuccino 001 – Choosing coffee, choosing a government and a visit to Rome

In the bar today a conversation about the government between two men with Roman accents prompts memories of trips to the eternal city, inlacing one adventure riding with a coach-full of modern-day hippies.

NewsCappuccino 000 – Launch episode

Welcome to the new Paypal and patron-only feature of "A History of Italy": NewsCapuccino. In this programme we're going to take a look at current affairs, stories and memories, starting from Italy and Italian issues, but taking a look at the world as well.

027 – Yet another Otto (III)

983 - 1002 After the death of Otto II, we see how his young son was brought up to manhood under the regency of his mother Theophanu and his grandmother Adelaide of Italy and how he became an emperor with dreams of greatness, as well as how those dress clashed with reality

026 – Another Otto (II)

973 - 983 We take just a moment to mourn Otto I and then proceed to see how his son, Otto II, got on with his attempt to hold the Holy Roman Empire together and even try to expand to all of the Italian peninsula while dealing with the usual pope complications. 

025 – Ottonian Italy

966 - 973 Otto I of Germany continues to consolidate his hold over Italy, attempting to go all the way south and dislodge the remaining Byzantine presence, meanwhile setting up his son with a Byzantine princess, Theophanu.