
The Italian Peninsula has been the cradle of European civilizations such as the Etruscans and the Romans. Ancient Rome, established in the 8th century BC, eventually became a massive empire encompassing the Mediterranean and beyond, fostering developments in law, government, architecture, and culture that have imprinted on Western civilization.
During the Middle Ages, Italy became a battleground for power and territory among city-states like Venice, Florence, and Milan, each of which functioned as a hub for commerce and finance, pivotal in the development of the Renaissance.
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