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In this breakneck history, bestselling author Ross King dismantles this assumption, uncovering the story of a land rife with inner uncertainty even as its influence spread.  As the Italian tale unfolds, prosperity and power fluctuate like the elevation in the Dolomites. If Rome’s seven hills could talk, they might speak of the glorious time of Trajan—or bemoan the era of conquest and the Bubonic Plague that decimated Rome’s population. Episodes of wealth like the First Triumvirate and the time of the Medicis are given fresh life alongside descriptions of the Middle Ages, the early days of Venice, the invasion of Napoleon, and the long struggle for unification.  Highlighting key events and personalities, King paints a vibrant portrait of a country whose political and cultural legacies enrich our lives today. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.","forthcoming":false,"isbn13":"9781891011450","publication_date":"20240416","publisher":"The Experiment","slug":"the-shortest-history-of-italy","subtitle":"3,000 Years From the Romans to the Renaissance to a Modern Republic—a Retelling for Our Times","title":"The Shortest History of Italy"},"discovery":{"categories":{"all":[{"bisac_code":"TRV009110","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Italy Travel","score":0.7732,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"HIS002020","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Ancient 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