Italian Culture Final

What caused the fall of Ancient Rome?

Overexpansion, political corruption, economic instability, and invasion by barbarian tribes (1-1).

What defined the Middle Ages in Italy?

Fragmented authority, Papal dominance, city-states, and feudalism (1-2).

What were the key traits of the Renaissance in Italy?

Revival of classical knowledge, flourishing of the arts, emergence of humanism (1-3).

Who were the Guelphs and Ghibellines?

Rival factions supporting Papal (Guelphs) and Imperial (Ghibellines) authority (1-4).

What triggered the Italian Wars starting in 1494?

French King Charles VIII's invasion of Italy, seeking to claim Naples (1-5).

What was the Congress of Vienna (1815)?

A diplomatic conference to restore pre-Napoleonic order in Europe (1-6).

What is the Risorgimento?

The movement for Italian unification culminating in 1861 (1-8).

Who was Giuseppe Mazzini?

Italian nationalist, founder of Young Italy, and advocate for a unified republic (1-7).

Who was Camillo Benso di Cavour?

Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, architect of Italian unification through diplomacy (1-7).

Who was Giuseppe Garibaldi?

Military leader of the Risorgimento known for his Red Shirts and southern campaigns (1-7).

What role did the House of Savoy play in Italian unification?

Led the movement for unification and produced Italy's first king, Victor Emmanuel II (1-8).

What was Napoleonic Italy?

French-imposed changes in Italy, spreading the Napoleonic Code and administrative reforms (1-9).

What does 'Ventennio' refer to?

The twenty-year period of Fascist rule under Mussolini (1922–1943) (1-10).

What is the meaning of Campanilismo?

Local pride and loyalty to one's town or region (1-11).

What is Clientelism in Italian politics?

A system where politicians offer favors in exchange for support (1-11).

What was Tangentopoli?

The 1990s Italian political scandal known as 'Bribesville,' exposing widespread corruption (1-11).

What are Mammismo and Familismo?

Cultural patterns emphasizing maternal dominance and strong family loyalty in Italy (1-12).

What is the Five Star Movement (M5S)?

A populist political movement founded by comedian Beppe Grillo (1-12).

What is a topos (plural topoi)?

A recurring cultural motif or theme in literature and art (1-13).

Who is Jhumpa Lahiri?

Author of In Other Words, exploring language learning and identity transformation (1-13).

What is the plot of Happy as Lazzaro?

A pure-hearted peasant is exploited under feudalism and wakes up decades later to similar injustice (2-1).

What does Tale of Tales explore?

Fantasy tales with themes of greed, vanity, and the grotesque drawn from Renaissance traditions (2-1).

What is Contaminatio in Tale of Tales?

Mixing of classical, medieval, folkloric, and Renaissance storytelling traditions (2-1).

What does The Great Beauty critique?

Moral emptiness, surface-level beauty, and cultural decline in modern Rome (2-1).

What is a Masseria?

A southern Italian farm complex, symbolizing feudal labor structures (2-2).

What is a Latifundium?

A large Roman agricultural estate worked by slaves or tenants (2-2).

What was Puls in Ancient Rome?

A basic porridge made from spelt or barley, a staple Roman food.

What was the Battle for Grain?

Mussolini's policy to boost domestic wheat production and reduce imports.

What is the Slow Food Movement?

An effort to preserve traditional cuisine and promote local farming, founded by Carlo Petrini.

What is Agriturismo?

Farm stays promoting rural tourism and traditional agriculture.

What does PDO stand for in food labeling?

Protected Designation of Origin, guaranteeing authenticity of regional foods.

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

A diet emphasizing olive oil, grains, vegetables, and fish, linked to longevity.

What was the Bruschetta Syndrome?

Simplified international branding of Italian food as rustic and peasant-like.

Who is Fabio Parasecoli?

Food scholar who wrote Al Dente, analyzing food as a reflection of Italian history and identity.

Who was Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa?

Author of The Leopard, depicting aristocratic decline during Italy's unification.

Who was Giambattista Basile?

Seventeenth-century Neapolitan author of The Tale of Tales, a seminal fairy tale collection.