Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

During the early modern period, the Italian peninsula remained divided and experienced frequent invasions from various foreign powers, which exercised control over parts of the peninsula. Often, such foreign occupation was met with fierce resistance by the Italian people, resulting in numerous insurrections in the pursuit of freedom. Furthermore, while the northern Italian peninsula remained, for the most part, independent of foreign domination and emerged as a cultural center during the Renaissance, the southern Italian peninsula was exploited by foreign powers. The result was sharp social divisions and uneven development among the peoples of Italy. In the seventeenth century, the southern Italian regions of Sicily and Naples remained under foreign occupation by Spain. Spain, which had territories throughout Europe, was engaged in frequent wars during the seventeenth century, including the Thirty Years' War (1618–48), and war with the Netherlands (1621–48) and France (1635–59). In order to finance these wars, Spain increased taxation and borrowing, placing an enormous burden on its territories. This pressing burden, when exacerbated by other facts (such as poor harvests), led to several rebellions in southern Italy. Sicily, which usually was a grain exporter, had a poor harvest in 1647 that resulted in massive inflation in the cost of bread. Food riots broke out in May in Palermo, ... log in or subscribe to read full text