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By: Delaney O'Neil

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Physical: Surrounded by a Adriatic Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, Italy is a boot shaped peninsula. There are two sets of mountains including the Alps and the Apennines mountains, separating Italy into regions. Wooded hills are located west of the Apennines and to the south are dry coastlands and fertile plains. Northern Italy is home of the valley of the Po River, while central Italy contains the Apennines mountains and a few fertile plains. Southern Italy includes long sandy beaches and even has one active volcano called Vesuvius. Italy also has its own islands, including Sicily (largest), Sardinia, and the Aeolian Islands. With the addition of Sicily and Sardinia, the area of Italy is 116,650 square miles. This is bigger than Arizona in the United States.

Mountains in Italy:

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Political: The capital of Italy is Rome and a few administrative region capitals include Florence, Milan, and Turin. Italy is surrounded by various countries including, Switzerland, Austria, France, and Slovenia. Italy also has maritime boundaries with countries like Albania and Algeria. Ultimately Italy is divided into 20 regions and smaller providences, such as Sicily, Piedmont, and Sardinia. In Northern Italy, summers are hot, with an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cold and last from December to April. Central Italy has similar summers that are hot in temperature, but their winters only get down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and only occasional dustings of snow. Finally, in Southern Italy, summers are hot and dry, following mild winters. This area rarely see's any snow or ice.

Humans:  With a total population of about 62,246,674 million people,  Italy's official language is Italian, but there are also various dialects that are continued in this region. In the different regions of Italy, unique tradition, cuisines, and customs are carried, such as the region of Tuscany. This ultimately gives the country of Italy a diverse and unique population. The economy of Italy uses Euro's and since the 1960's, has become one of the worlds leading economies. Its major industries stem from tourism and machinery. The form of government for Italy is a Republic and about 90% of the population of its people are Roman Catholic. There are growing Jewish and Muslim communities. The Italian birth rate is low, but the population is increasing due to the number of immigrants coming to the country. This gives Italy a density of 200 people per square kilometer.

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The first civilization in Italy occurred in the 8th century BCE, where colonies were set by the Indo-Europeans. The founding of Rome is one of the greatest civilizations, starting as the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire (27 BCE-476 BCE). Two twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, founded Rome, while Augustus Caesar created the Roman Empire by proclaiming himself as the emperor. The Roman Empire was divided into the Eastern Empire and the Western Empire. The Western Empire collapsed due to barbarian invasions in 476 CE, becoming smaller city-states. These smaller communities consisted of primitive tribes, such as the Greeks and Etruscans.
The Renaissance period occurred during the eighth and ninth centuries and consisted of powerful trading cities. Florence, Venice, and Genoa were all cities that used architecture and art to legitimize rule.
Next, after the War of the Spanish Succession (1713), many cities were handed to Hapsburgs of Austria. This ultimately lost some of Italy's territories. The unification of Italy into the Kingdom of Italy occurred in the 19th century and was led by Napoleon. During this unification, a war between Austria and France (1859), allowed for states to merge, such as the Papal States. Italy was one in 1861 and continued to grow into 1810.
When the fascist dictator Mussolini came into power, Italy was taken into World Wat II. His downfall resulted from the war, leading modern Italy to become a democratic republic. In 1948, Italy's constitution came into effect, which followed a referendum in 1946, abolishing monarchy. Italy is part of NATO and the European Economic Community, to help build and restore it's economy. When the left-wing Red Brigades threatened domestic stability, Italy's partnerships in these groups were able to suppress the terrorist activities in the 1980's. Italy's current president is Sergio Mattarella, who has been ruling since 2015. He is the 12th president of Italy and was appointed by the Italian Parliament.

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Italy to Try Four Egyptian Agents in Killing of Italian Student:

An Italian students brutalized body was found in Cairo during 2016. Prosecutors are now trying four Egyptian security agents for kidnapping and torturing the doctoral student, Giulio Regeni. The National Security Agency in Egypt is being tried in absentia.
Alessandra Ballerini, the lawyer for Giulio's parents, indicate that Giulio's human rights were violated, but this case will be a step in the right direction in the right for justice. Giulio vanished when he was researching labor unions in Cairo. Maj. Madgi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif, Maj. Gen. Tariq Sabir, Col. Athar Kamel Mohamed Ibrahim and Col. Uhsam Helmi are being faced with a possible 10 years in prison. Maj. Sharif is being charged for murder and could hold a life sentence, if the defendants are found guilty.
Even though it is five years after the murder, the case is still advertised around Italy. The parents of Giulio often speak to student groups and at conferences for human rights. Many witnesses have emerged in recent months and video footage from the subway station where Giulio disappeared, are being used in the case. One witness claims seeing Giulio being handcuffed, with obvious signs of torture. Some even say that many believe the student was a spy, justifying the kidnappers actions.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/25/world/europe/italy-egyptian-agents-killing-student-giulio-regen.html

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https://www.petersommer.com/italy/geography

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/italy#:~:text=use%20is%20prohibited.-,Italy%20is%20a%20boot%2Dshaped%20peninsula%20that%20juts%20out%20of,interior%2C%20dividing%20it%20into%20regions.

https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/italy-political-map.htm#:~:text=Italy%20extends%20for%20or%20about,Switzerland%20and%20Austria%20are%20located.

https://www.thoughtco.com/summary-of-italian-history-1221657

https://www.ferraroslasvegas.com/what-is-italian-food-culture/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-geography-of-italy-4020744

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https://youtu.be/8teLjgaEhy8

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Italy is a famous for its 'Italian' food culture. Pasta and pizza are popular cuisine in Italy and dishes served with tomatoes. These dishes are popular in America and can often be found in Italian restaurants. North Italy showcases different meats and fishes, while Southern Italy has many uses for tomatoes.

https://blazepress.com/.image/MTQ4ODQwOTk1NjIwOTIyNDIz/funny-jokes-about-italy-21.jpg