Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 7

Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 7 - Italy, Sicily, and Greece (Part One)

Tourists in great numbers now go to Italy by steamers that have Naples and Genoa for ports. By the fast Channel steamers, however, touching at Cherbourg and Havre, one may make the trip in less time (rail journey included). In going to Rome, four days could thus be saved; but the expense will be greaterperhaps forty per cent. ... "and now, fair Italy! Thou art the garden of the world, the home Of all Art yields, and Nature can decree; Even in thy desert, what is like to thee? Thy very weeds are beautiful, thy waste More rich than other climes' fertility; Thy wreck a glory, and thy ruin graced With an immaculate charm which can not be defaced." At least four civilizations, and probably five, have dominated Italy; together they cover a period of more than 3,000 yearsPelasgian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Italian. Of these the Pelasgian is, in the main, legendary. Next came the Etruscan.[Pg vi] How old that civilization is no man knows, but its beginnings date from at least 1000 B.C.that is, earlier than Homer's writings, and earlier by nearly three centuries than the wall built by Romulus around Rome. The Etruscan state was a federation of twelve cities, embracing a large part of central and northern Italyfrom near Naples as far north perhaps as Milan and the great Lombard plain. Etruscans thus dominated the largest, and certainly the fairest, parts of Italy. Before Rome was founded, the Etruscan cities were populous and opulent commonwealths. Together they formed one of the great naval powers of the Mediterranean. Of their civilization, we have abundant knowledge from architectural remains, and, from thousands of inscriptions still extant. Cortona was one of their oldest towns. "Ere Troy itself arose, Cortona was." ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 18845
Author: Halsey, Francis W. (Francis Whiting)
Release Date: Jul 16, 2006
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Halsey, Francis W. (Francis Whiting), 1851-1919