Early history.  The history of modern Italy starts around 1871 when the political and social movement called the Resorgimento (Resurgence) led, aided by the use of force, to the bringing together of the different kingdoms and city states of the Italian peninsula into a single unified state. Central figures in the effort were Cavour, president of the Piedmont-Sardinia Council of Ministers, Garibaldi and his Thousand, and King Victor Emmanuel II who was proclaimed King of Italy on 27 March 1861.

World Wars I and II.  During the 19^th century and up to World War II Italy was a colonial power with Libya, Eritrea, Somalia, Ethopia, Albania, Rhodes and the Dodecanese islands among its territories. Following World War I, which devastated Italy's economy and resulted in mass loss of life, the National Fascist Party was formed under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. Mussolini established himself as a dictator and suppressed all political freedoms. In 1940 he entered WWII on the side of the Axis powers. The fascist regime collapsed in 1943 with the invasion of Italy by the allied forces. Until the end of the war Italy was a battlefield. Half a million died including civilians and the economy was all but destroyed.    

Recent history.  After the war the monarchy was restored but in 1946 King Umberto II was forced to abdicate and Italy became a republic. The first multi-party elections were held in 1948 with the Christian Democrats victorious under De Gasperi. The US Marshall Plan helped revive the economy.