The modern Olympic movement was inspired by the classical world. But, says Richard Bosworth, when the Italian capital hosted the Games in 1960, the organisers had to offer an image of the city that also took account of its Christian, Renaissance and Fascist pasts.
Richard Cavendish describes the attack, on August 24th 410, that signalled the beginning of the end of the Western Roman empire
Russell Tarr sees similarities but also important contrasts in the foreign policies of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy
Emily Parton asks a key question about Italian unification, in the winning entry of History Review magazine's 2009 Julia Wood Award.
Mark Bryant profiles the brilliant wartime cartoonist who chronicled the actions of Italy’s Fascist leader.
Robert Pearce examines the career of Mussolini’s forerunner.
In 1926 Umberto Nobile, a young Italian airship engineer, became a hero of Mussolini’s Fascist state when he piloted Roald Amundsen’s Norge over the North Pole. But his subsequent attempt to make the journey on behalf of his own country ended in tragedy. Irene Peroni tells his story.
On April 27th, 1509, the Pope attempted to restrict the power of Venice.
What happened when a philosopher, an artist and a ruthless warrior – all giants of the Renaissance – met on campaign in northern Italy? Paul Strathern explains.
Mark Rathbone asks why the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia emerged in the 1850s as the likely unifier of Italy.
