Figure 1.--This photo was taken in Palermo, Sicily, probably during the very early-20th century. Notice the horsedrawn carriage. We think the children with short hair wearing dresses are girls, but we are not positive.

The two most important Italian islands are Sicily and Sardinia. Sicily in particular has played an important role in European history. The history of Sicily is essentialy the history of Western civilization. It is a large island and dominates the central Mediterranean. A glance at the map shows that Sicily is the key to the Mediterranean. It is the largest island in the Mediterranean and controls movement between the eastern and western Mediterranean. For this reason it has been one of the most fought over island in the world. Sicily is especially important in Italian history. Sicily featured prominately in the Peloponesian War. It was also an important battleground in the First Punic War. With the Roman conquest it became thorougly italianized. Both as well as Corsica were acuired by the Romans in the Punic Wars. Sicily became associated with Naples in the medieval period, becoming part of the Kingdom of the Two Siclies. Many Sicilians joined the Italian emigration to America beining with them along other things, pizza and the Mafia. Unlike most other immigrant groups, qiote a number of Italisns including Sicilians returned home. The island played a role in the naval struggle between Italy and Britain for control of the Mediterranean (1940-41). And because of its stategic location, the Allies invaded (July 1943). The Socilian campaign was unusual in that so many Sicilians had either been to America or had relatives in America.

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Created: 12:05 AM 5/16/2010
Last updated: 12:05 AM 5/16/2010