Sicilia: History Flashcards
Which royal dynasties have ruled Sicilia in turn and contributed in making the island what it is today?
- Phoenicians
- Greeks
- Romans
- Goths
- Byzantines
- Arabs
- German Hohenstaufen
- French Angevin
- Spanish Bourbons
What does Sicilia boast?
Remarkable works of art, architecture, and literature. This island also lays claim to one of Italy’s largest concentrations of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Several notable archeological sites:
* Greek temples of Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temples)
* Selinunte
What is the capital of Sicilia?
Palermo
It has astonishing buildings built in the Arab-Norman style.
Name the active volcanos in Sicilia.
- Etna: Europe’s largest and most active
- Stromboli: part of the volcanic archipelago Aeolian Islands
- Vulcano: part of the volcanic archipelago Aeolian Islands
What of the dishes and pastries in Sicilia?
The rich cultural heritage of this island is matched by an amazingly diverse and complex gastronomy that reflects all of the contributions made by the different peoples who have settled here. The list of dishes and pastries are quite extensive and unique with each province and town having their own specialities made with local ingredients.
How does the large size of Sicilia influence viticulture?
- There is a range of terroirs.
- there is a wealth of native grape varieties.
Where does the name Sicilia come from?
The name derives from Siculi (Sicels), one of the ancient Italic tribes to first inhabit the island.
How long has grape growing and winemaking existed in Sicilia?
Archaeological discoveries suggest since the 2nd millenium BC.
In the 8th century BC the island gradually acquired strategic importance thanks to its position in the center of the Mediterranean Sea.
Who was the first to colonize Sicilia?
The Phoenicians; they established a settlement in the western part of the island and founded Palermo, the modern-day capital.
They also promoted the development of viticulture.
When did Greek settlers arrive on Sicilia?
Almost simultaneously as the Phoenicians, on the eastern side of the island. They took viticulture to a whole new level.
They founded several important colonies and the island became one of the most important centers of the Magna Graecia (Great Greece).
What was the influence of the Greek presence on Sicilia?
It led to huge leaps in the economic and cultural development of Sicilia. The Greeks then expanded to other parts of southern and central Italy, greatly impacting what would become Roman civilization.
How did the Greeks influence viticulture in Sicilia?
They introduced their native vines as well as their traditional viticultural practices such as the low alberello training system and short pruning techniques.
They introduced new ways to produce, consume and preserve wine. (e.g. sweet, high-alcohol wines diluted with water and seasoned with various spices. The same practices were later followed by the Romans.)
When did the Romans take control of Sicilia?
Between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, the entire island fell under their control.
Rome needed large quantities of wheat to support its military expansion, so viticulture became secondary to cereal production. The island was turned into Rome’s granary.
What happened to Sicilia after the fall of the Roman Empire?
The island was war-ravaged. There were multiple invasions.
In the 9th century AD, the Arab Saraceni conquered the island and maintained control for two centuries.
How did Sicilia fair under Saraceni rule?
The island prospered under Muslim rule. The Arabs introduced intensive farming methods, new irrigation techniques and new food crops. Grapes were largely cultivated for raisin production as Muslim law forbade wine consumption in public.
What are the 3 major administrative districts the the Arabs divided Sicilia into?
- Val di Mazara: western Sicilia
- Val di Noto: southeast Sicilia
- Val Demone: northeast Sicilia
This division was official until the early 19th C. and the districts remain as informal location markers today. The wines of Sicilia are often referenced by them.
Who defeated the Arabs in the second half of the 11th C. AD?
The Normans; they also took over a large portion of southern Italy, creating the Kingdom of Sicily. The island flourised under this rule.
Who acquired rule over Sicilia after the Normans?
Norman rule transitioned to the noble German house of Hohenstaufen until the mid-13th C. and the island continued to prosper.
In the centuries that followed, the island fell to the mercy of foreign powers and ambitious sovereigns. It became a pawn in the political chessboard of Europe.
What happened to Sicilia during the Middle Ages?
After almost 400 years of progress and prosperity under Arab and Norman rule, the island was plunged into a long and deep economic and social decline that lasted centuries.
Sicilia was handed over to who in the 14th C.?
The French House of Anjou, before becoming part of the Spanish Kingdom of Aragon.
The island remained under Spanish rule from the 14th to 17th C. before being passed briefly to the House of Savoy, the Austrian Habsburgs, and the Spanish Bourbons in turn.
What happened to Sicilia after the end of the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th C.?
The island was united to the southern part of Italy forming the Kingdom of Naples. This kingdom was later renamed “Kingdom of the Two Sicilies” and remained under Bourbon rule until 1860 when the island joined the Kingdom of Sardinia in preparation for Italian unification in 1860.
How is it that nobe landowners (barons) emerged from the medieval feudal system in Sicilia?
This was a result of the island’s lack of a stable central authority. Unlike in other Italian regions, these barons remained powerful and even expanded their land holdings and privileges well into the 19th C..
Which army was stationed on Sicilia between the late 18th and early 19th C.?
The British Royal Navy; with the aim of blocking Napoleonic expansion. These sailors became major consumers of the local wine. British influence was also instrumental in the development of Marsala, the most famous Italian fortified wine.
What happened in Sicilia at the close of the 19th century when phylloxera ravaged the vineyards of France?
French wine merchants arrived on the island, seeking good, inexpensive wine to ship home in order to augment the dwindling supply of French wine. A remarkable wine trade begain, kicking off a new era for the local wine industry.
