World History Series: The Pursuit of Italy




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ClassGraphic Italy’s history predates the Greeks, yet it is one of the youngest countries in Europe, having been a unified nation for just 165 years. British historian David Gilmour examines the diversity of the land that makes up Italy today in The Pursuit of Italy: A History of a Land, Its Regions, and Their Peoples  (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 2012). Gilmore delves into the complex history of Italy, chronicling the progressive waves of Greeks and Etruscans, dissecting the far reaching influence of the Roman Empire, and discussing the impact of the Byzantines, Lombards, Arabs, Normans and other overlords who molded the peninsula into an assortment of independent and highly individual city-states. In the study group, we’ll learn how the foreign rule that followed the glories of the Renaissance further fractured the land into numerous independent entities. We’ll discuss Gilmore’s critical analysis of nineteenth century nationalism and unification, how Italy lapsed into fascism under Mussolini and has struggled to become a functioning democracy in the modern world. Join us in reading and discussing this lucid, elegant and engaging study of the history of Italy.

Class Details

14 Session(s)
Weekly - Tue

Location
Wieboldt Hall

Instructor
Multiple

Tuition:  $0.00

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Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
9/8/2026 - 12/8/2026 Weekly - Tue 01:15 PM - 03:15 PM Chicago, Wieboldt Hall  Map Angela D'Aversa  ; Ann Rusnak  ; Dennis Carlin