A History of Italy

Interview – Daniela Pellacani on Ciro Menotti

We have a chat with Italian teacher and history enthusiast Daniela Pellacani from Carpi on one of the heroes of the Risorgimento, Ciro Menotti.

024 – Outstanding Otto and more mess from a porn pope

951 - 066 We take a look at the reign of the teenage oboe John XII and the start of the struggle between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire

023 – Here come the Ottonians

932 - 955 We look at how Alberic II did after taking control of Rome from his mother Marozia and his stepfather Guido of Provence. Then we jave a look at the usual confusion in northern Italy before the descent of the Saxon king Otto I, while we wait for the unforgettable pope John Xii to come on the scene.

022 – More mischief from Marozia

910 - 932 We look at the second part of the incredible story of Marozia, as we use her family as an example of the chaos that was early tenth century Italy.

021 – Rowdy Roman Revelry: Marozia’s pornocracy

897 - 910 We take a look at the situation of debauchery and corruption that Italy, and more specifically Rome, fell into during the ninth and tenth centuries, with a particular focus on the Tuscolo family and perhaps its most famous member, Marozia.

020 – Annoying anarchy

888- 926 We look at the anarchy Italy fell into after the end of the Carolingians with the dealings of such men as Berengarius of Friuli and Guy of Spoleto, intersperse with some more foreign kings and emperors.

019 – Feudal fun with the Franks

843- 887 We finish off the last of th Carolingians in Italy and take a look at the feudal system they brought with them into the county.

Special episode 03 – Republic Day and an unprecedented institutional crisis

We look back over the history of the upcoming cementation of Republic Day, 2nd June and look at the current political situation in the light of the constitution that cam out of that historical moment.

018 – A clear-up on kingdoms and back up the boot in the ninth century

We first cleat up the concept of the "Kingdom of Italy" and then make our way back up from the Arab Emirate of Sicily to look at the Principality of Benevento, the Duchy of Naples and the Duchy of Spoleto in the ninth century as the Carolingians do their thing up north.

017 – Some silly Syracusans, some Saracens and Sicily, plus pirates

827-840 We leave the north for a while and take a look at Sicily. First we have a quick peak at the start of the Arab raids on the island in the early seventh century and then head back to the ninth when Sicily became an Arab Emirate.