Sicily: An Informal History

"This work covers the extensive and varied history of the island of Sicily from the pre-historic period to the present. Sicily is a microcosm of the whole of Western and Mediterranean history, a place where more than five thousand years of history can be seen in a concentrated and accessible area. There are vivid descriptions of the island's varied historic sites, such as the prehistoric remains of the Neolithic age; the dramatic ruins of the Greek temples and theaters; the Roman villas and ampitheaters; and more. Finally, the dramatic periods of the Napoleonic Wars and the Risorgimento - the birth of the modern Italian nation - are described here in relation to the island's history, as are the events that led to Sicily's emergence into the modern industrial world. The book includes two appendices comprising a timeline of the long and varied course of Sicilian history; and a travel itinerary covering the full extent of the island and noting the many historic cities and sites described in each chapter."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved