Italian Peninsula - Revision history

Walter61: Page revised

2026-07-02T21:16:26Z

Page revised

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:16, 2 July 2026
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	{{Short description\|Peninsula in Southern Europe}}		{{Short description\|Peninsula in Southern Europe}}

	The '''Italian Peninsula''' is a peninsula in [[Southern Europe]] ~~extending from the [[Alps]]~~ into the central [[Mediterranean Sea]]. It forms the ~~main continental~~ part of [[Italy]] ~~and is bordered by the~~ [[~~Adriatic Sea~~]] ~~to the east, the~~ [[~~Ionian Sea~~]] ~~to the southeast, and the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas to~~ the ~~west~~.<ref name="italy-geography"/><ref name="southern-europe~~-geography"/><ref name="mediterranean~~-geography"/>		The '''Italian Peninsula''' is a peninsula in [[Southern Europe]] that extends into the central [[Mediterranean Sea]]. It forms the central and southern part of mainland [[Italy]]. [[San Marino]] and [[Vatican City]] are also located on the peninsula.<ref name="italy-geography"/><ref name="southern-europe-geography"/>

	The peninsula ~~has been an important geographic route between western Europe, central Europe,~~ the ~~Balkans, North Africa, and~~ the ~~wider Mediterranean~~. Its ~~central position made it important for settlement, trade, military movement, maritime transport~~, and ~~political administration from antiquity onward~~.		The peninsula is bordered by the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the east. Its southern coast meets the [[Ionian Sea]], while the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas lie to the west.<ref name="mediterranean-geography"/><ref name="adriatic-geography"/><ref name="ionian-geography"/>

	== Geography ==		== Geography ==

	The Italian Peninsula ~~extends southward from northern Italy toward~~ the ~~central Mediterranean~~. The [[~~Apennine Mountains~~]] ~~run along much~~ of ~~its length~~ and ~~divide several coastal and inland regions. The~~ peninsula ~~contains major lowlands, river valleys, mountain districts, coastal plains, and port cities~~.~~<ref name="italy-geography"/>~~		The conventional northern boundary of the Italian Peninsula runs between the Gulf of La Spezia and the Adriatic coast near Rimini. The [[Po Valley]] and the [[Alps\|Alpine]] regions lie north of this line and form part of continental Italy rather than the peninsula itself.

	The ~~Adriatic coast faces the western Balkans across the Adriatic Sea. The southern coast faces the Ionian Sea and connects with routes toward~~ [[~~Greece~~]]~~, [[Albania]],~~ and the eastern ~~Mediterranean~~.~~<ref name="adriatic-geography"/><ref name="ionian-geography"/>~~ The ~~western side faces~~ the Tyrrhenian ~~and Ligurian seas and connects the peninsula with [[Sicily]], [[Sardinia]],~~ [[~~Corsica~~]], ~~France, and~~ the ~~western Mediterranean~~.		The [[Apennine Mountains]] form the main physical structure of the peninsula. They extend southward from Liguria through central Italy and continue into Calabria. Their position divides the land into eastern and western drainage areas. Because the mountains lie close to much of the coast, most rivers are comparatively short. The Tiber crosses central Italy before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea near [[Rome]], while the Arno flows through Tuscany.

	~~Major cities on or near~~ the peninsula ~~include [[Rome]], [[Naples]], [[Florence]],~~ [[~~Bologna]], [[Genoa]], [[Venice]], [[Bari]], and [[Taranto~~]]. ~~Rome is~~ the ~~main political centre of Italy and was~~ the ~~historic centre~~ of ~~ancient Roman power~~.		The western side of the peninsula generally has broader coastal plains than the Adriatic side. The eastern slopes of the Apennines descend toward a narrower coastal strip. The peninsula widens in central Italy before dividing into two southern extensions. Calabria forms the southwestern extension toward [[Sicily]]. The Salento Peninsula forms the southeastern extension, with the Gulf of Taranto between them.

	== ~~History~~ ==		The Gargano Peninsula projects into the Adriatic Sea from the eastern coast. Elsewhere, the coastline contains gulfs and natural harbours that supported maritime settlement. Coastal areas generally have a Mediterranean climate. Conditions become cooler and wetter at higher elevations in the Apennines.

			== Political geography ==

			Italy occupies most of the peninsula. The Italian capital, Rome, is located in its central-western part. [[Naples]] lies farther south on the Tyrrhenian coast, while [[Bari]] is one of the principal cities on the Adriatic side.

	~~The Italian Peninsula contained several ancient peoples before~~ the ~~rise~~ of Rome. ~~The Roman Republic expanded from central~~ Italy and ~~later developed into the Roman Empire, which governed~~ the peninsula~~, the Mediterranean basin, and large parts of Europe, western Asia, and North Africa~~.<ref name="italy-~~history~~"/>		San Marino is located on the northeastern side of the Apennines and is surrounded by Italian territory. Vatican City is enclosed within Rome. Sicily and [[Sardinia]] form part of Italy but are islands and are not part of the peninsula.<ref name="italy-geography"/>

	~~After the decline of Roman authority in the west, the~~ peninsula ~~was divided among kingdoms, city-states, church territories, foreign dynasties,~~ and ~~regional powers~~. ~~Italian cities became important centres of trade, banking, diplomacy, religion, art,~~ and ~~political competition~~.		The peninsula occupies a central position between western Europe and the [[Balkans]]. Maritime routes across the surrounding seas connect it with North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.<ref name="southern-europe-geography"/><ref name="mediterranean-geography"/>

	~~The political unification of most of the peninsula created the [[Kingdom of Italy]] on 17 March 1861. The Italian Republic later replaced the monarchy on 18 June 1946.<ref name~~=~~"southern-europe-history"/>~~		== History ==

	~~== Language~~ and ~~culture =~~=		Different peoples occupied the Italian Peninsula before the expansion of Rome. The Roman Republic developed in central Italy and gradually brought the peninsula under its control. Rome later became the centre of the [[Roman Empire]], whose roads and administrative systems connected the peninsula with territories across the Mediterranean.<ref name="italy-history"/>

	~~The [[Italian language]] developed from~~ the ~~spoken Latin~~ of the ~~Italian Peninsula~~. ~~Standard Italian is based mainly on~~ the ~~Tuscan varieties used around [[Florence]]~~.~~<ref name="italian-language"/>~~		Political unity ended after the decline of the Western Roman Empire. Kingdoms controlled large territorial areas during the following centuries. Independent republics governed important cities, while the Papal States occupied much of central Italy. The geography of the peninsula contributed to this political division because the Apennines separated regional centres and made overland communication difficult.

	The peninsula ~~has influenced law, language, religion, architecture, art, music, political thought, urban planning, and Mediterranean trade~~. Rome~~, Florence, Venice, Genoa, Naples, Bologna,~~ and ~~other cities developed lasting cultural~~ and ~~administrative roles~~.		The political unification of most of the peninsula resulted in the creation of the [[Kingdom of Italy]] on 17 March 1861. Rome was incorporated into the kingdom in 1870 and became its capital. The monarchy was replaced by the Italian Republic following the institutional referendum held on 2 and 3 June 1946.<ref name="southern-europe-history"/>

	== See also ==		== See also ==
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	* [[Adriatic Sea]]		* [[Adriatic Sea]]
	* [[Ionian Sea]]		* [[Ionian Sea]]
	* [[~~Italian language~~]]		* [[Apennine Mountains]]

	== References ==		== References ==
	{{Reflist\|refs=		{{Reflist\|refs=
	<ref name="italy-geography">"[[Italy#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''~~. Geography section describing the Italian Peninsula, the Alps, the Apennine Mountains, and Italy's central Mediterranean position. Accessed 21 June 2026~~.</ref>		<ref name="italy-geography">"[[Italy#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
	<ref name="southern-europe-geography">"[[Southern Europe#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''~~. Geography section identifying the Italian Peninsula as part of Southern Europe and the central Mediterranean. Accessed 21 June 2026~~.</ref>		<ref name="southern-europe-geography">"[[Southern Europe#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
	<ref name="mediterranean-geography">"[[Mediterranean Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Mediterranean Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''~~. Geography section listing the Italian Peninsula and surrounding Mediterranean regional seas. Accessed 21 June 2026~~.</ref>		<ref name="mediterranean-geography">"[[Mediterranean Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Mediterranean Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
	<ref name="adriatic-geography">"[[Adriatic Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Adriatic Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''~~. Geography section describing the Adriatic Sea between the Italian Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026~~.</ref>		<ref name="adriatic-geography">"[[Adriatic Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Adriatic Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
	<ref name="ionian-geography">"[[Ionian Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Ionian Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''~~. Geography section describing the Ionian Sea beside southern Italy, Calabria, and the Salento Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026~~.</ref>		<ref name="ionian-geography">"[[Ionian Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Ionian Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
	<ref name="italy-history">"[[Italy#History\|History]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''~~. History section covering ancient Italy, Rome, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. Accessed 21 June 2026~~.</ref>		<ref name="italy-history">"[[Italy#History\|History]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
	<ref name="southern-europe-history">"[[Southern Europe#History\|History]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''~~. History section covering Roman expansion from the Italian Peninsula and the unification of Italy in the nineteenth century. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>~~		<ref name="southern-europe-history">"[[Southern Europe#History\|History]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
	<ref name="italian-language">"[[Italian language\|Italian language]]". ''Italian language''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Lead section describing Italian as a Romance language that developed from the spoken Latin of the Italian Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>
	}}		}}

	[[Category:Southern Europe]]		[[Category:Southern Europe]]

	[[Category:Geography]]		[[Category:Geography]]

	[[Category:Italy]]		[[Category:Italy]]

	[[Category:Locations]]		[[Category:Locations]]

VU-MaintenanceBot: Delink Roman Empire before deleting unused location page

2026-06-28T17:31:37Z

Delink Roman Empire before deleting unused location page

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:31, 28 June 2026
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	== History ==		== History ==

	The Italian Peninsula contained several ancient peoples before the rise of Rome. The Roman Republic expanded from central Italy and later developed into the [[Roman Empire]], which governed the peninsula, the Mediterranean basin, and large parts of Europe, western Asia, and North Africa.~~<ref name="roman-empire-lead"/>~~<ref name="italy-history"/>		The Italian Peninsula contained several ancient peoples before the rise of Rome. The Roman Republic expanded from central Italy and later developed into the Roman Empire, which governed the peninsula, the Mediterranean basin, and large parts of Europe, western Asia, and North Africa.<ref name="italy-history"/>

	After the decline of Roman authority in the west, the peninsula was divided among kingdoms, city-states, church territories, foreign dynasties, and regional powers. Italian cities became important centres of trade, banking, diplomacy, religion, art, and political competition.		After the decline of Roman authority in the west, the peninsula was divided among kingdoms, city-states, church territories, foreign dynasties, and regional powers. Italian cities became important centres of trade, banking, diplomacy, religion, art, and political competition.
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	* [[Adriatic Sea]]		* [[Adriatic Sea]]
	* [[Ionian Sea]]		* [[Ionian Sea]]
	* [[Roman Empire]]
	* [[Italian language]]		* [[Italian language]]

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	{{Reflist\|refs=		{{Reflist\|refs=
	<ref name="italy-geography">"[[Italy#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section describing the Italian Peninsula, the Alps, the Apennine Mountains, and Italy's central Mediterranean position. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>		<ref name="italy-geography">"[[Italy#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section describing the Italian Peninsula, the Alps, the Apennine Mountains, and Italy's central Mediterranean position. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

	<ref name="southern-europe-geography">"[[Southern Europe#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section identifying the Italian Peninsula as part of Southern Europe and the central Mediterranean. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>		<ref name="southern-europe-geography">"[[Southern Europe#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section identifying the Italian Peninsula as part of Southern Europe and the central Mediterranean. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

	<ref name="mediterranean-geography">"[[Mediterranean Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Mediterranean Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section listing the Italian Peninsula and surrounding Mediterranean regional seas. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>		<ref name="mediterranean-geography">"[[Mediterranean Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Mediterranean Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section listing the Italian Peninsula and surrounding Mediterranean regional seas. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

	<ref name="adriatic-geography">"[[Adriatic Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Adriatic Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section describing the Adriatic Sea between the Italian Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>		<ref name="adriatic-geography">"[[Adriatic Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Adriatic Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section describing the Adriatic Sea between the Italian Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

	<ref name="ionian-geography">"[[Ionian Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Ionian Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section describing the Ionian Sea beside southern Italy, Calabria, and the Salento Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>		<ref name="ionian-geography">"[[Ionian Sea#Geography\|Geography]]". ''Ionian Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section describing the Ionian Sea beside southern Italy, Calabria, and the Salento Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

	<ref name="roman-empire-lead">"[[Roman Empire\|Roman Empire]]". ''Roman Empire''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Lead section describing the Roman Empire as a state centred on Rome and the Mediterranean. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

	<ref name="italy-history">"[[Italy#History\|History]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. History section covering ancient Italy, Rome, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>		<ref name="italy-history">"[[Italy#History\|History]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. History section covering ancient Italy, Rome, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

	<ref name="southern-europe-history">"[[Southern Europe#History\|History]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. History section covering Roman expansion from the Italian Peninsula and the unification of Italy in the nineteenth century. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>		<ref name="southern-europe-history">"[[Southern Europe#History\|History]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. History section covering Roman expansion from the Italian Peninsula and the unification of Italy in the nineteenth century. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

	<ref name="italian-language">"[[Italian language\|Italian language]]". ''Italian language''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Lead section describing Italian as a Romance language that developed from the spoken Latin of the Italian Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>		<ref name="italian-language">"[[Italian language\|Italian language]]". ''Italian language''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Lead section describing Italian as a Romance language that developed from the spoken Latin of the Italian Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>
	}}		}}

VU-MaintenanceBot: Create Italian Peninsula page from local VU draft

2026-06-21T15:36:59Z

Create Italian Peninsula page from local VU draft

New page

{{Short description|Peninsula in Southern Europe}}

The '''Italian Peninsula''' is a peninsula in [[Southern Europe]] extending from the [[Alps]] into the central [[Mediterranean Sea]]. It forms the main continental part of [[Italy]] and is bordered by the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the east, the [[Ionian Sea]] to the southeast, and the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas to the west.<ref name="italy-geography"/><ref name="southern-europe-geography"/><ref name="mediterranean-geography"/>

The peninsula has been an important geographic route between western Europe, central Europe, the Balkans, North Africa, and the wider Mediterranean. Its central position made it important for settlement, trade, military movement, maritime transport, and political administration from antiquity onward.

== Geography ==

The Italian Peninsula extends southward from northern Italy toward the central Mediterranean. The [[Apennine Mountains]] run along much of its length and divide several coastal and inland regions. The peninsula contains major lowlands, river valleys, mountain districts, coastal plains, and port cities.<ref name="italy-geography"/>

The Adriatic coast faces the western Balkans across the Adriatic Sea. The southern coast faces the Ionian Sea and connects with routes toward [[Greece]], [[Albania]], and the eastern Mediterranean.<ref name="adriatic-geography"/><ref name="ionian-geography"/> The western side faces the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas and connects the peninsula with [[Sicily]], [[Sardinia]], [[Corsica]], France, and the western Mediterranean.

Major cities on or near the peninsula include [[Rome]], [[Naples]], [[Florence]], [[Bologna]], [[Genoa]], [[Venice]], [[Bari]], and [[Taranto]]. Rome is the main political centre of Italy and was the historic centre of ancient Roman power.

== History ==

The Italian Peninsula contained several ancient peoples before the rise of Rome. The Roman Republic expanded from central Italy and later developed into the [[Roman Empire]], which governed the peninsula, the Mediterranean basin, and large parts of Europe, western Asia, and North Africa.<ref name="roman-empire-lead"/><ref name="italy-history"/>

After the decline of Roman authority in the west, the peninsula was divided among kingdoms, city-states, church territories, foreign dynasties, and regional powers. Italian cities became important centres of trade, banking, diplomacy, religion, art, and political competition.

The political unification of most of the peninsula created the [[Kingdom of Italy]] on 17 March 1861. The Italian Republic later replaced the monarchy on 18 June 1946.<ref name="southern-europe-history"/>

== Language and culture ==

The [[Italian language]] developed from the spoken Latin of the Italian Peninsula. Standard Italian is based mainly on the Tuscan varieties used around [[Florence]].<ref name="italian-language"/>

The peninsula has influenced law, language, religion, architecture, art, music, political thought, urban planning, and Mediterranean trade. Rome, Florence, Venice, Genoa, Naples, Bologna, and other cities developed lasting cultural and administrative roles.

== See also ==
* [[Italy]]
* [[Southern Europe]]
* [[Mediterranean Sea]]
* [[Adriatic Sea]]
* [[Ionian Sea]]
* [[Roman Empire]]
* [[Italian language]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="italy-geography">"[[Italy#Geography|Geography]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section describing the Italian Peninsula, the Alps, the Apennine Mountains, and Italy's central Mediterranean position. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

<ref name="southern-europe-geography">"[[Southern Europe#Geography|Geography]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section identifying the Italian Peninsula as part of Southern Europe and the central Mediterranean. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

<ref name="mediterranean-geography">"[[Mediterranean Sea#Geography|Geography]]". ''Mediterranean Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section listing the Italian Peninsula and surrounding Mediterranean regional seas. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

<ref name="adriatic-geography">"[[Adriatic Sea#Geography|Geography]]". ''Adriatic Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section describing the Adriatic Sea between the Italian Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

<ref name="ionian-geography">"[[Ionian Sea#Geography|Geography]]". ''Ionian Sea''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Geography section describing the Ionian Sea beside southern Italy, Calabria, and the Salento Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

<ref name="roman-empire-lead">"[[Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]". ''Roman Empire''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Lead section describing the Roman Empire as a state centred on Rome and the Mediterranean. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

<ref name="italy-history">"[[Italy#History|History]]". ''Italy''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. History section covering ancient Italy, Rome, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

<ref name="southern-europe-history">"[[Southern Europe#History|History]]". ''Southern Europe''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. History section covering Roman expansion from the Italian Peninsula and the unification of Italy in the nineteenth century. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>

<ref name="italian-language">"[[Italian language|Italian language]]". ''Italian language''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''. Lead section describing Italian as a Romance language that developed from the spoken Latin of the Italian Peninsula. Accessed 21 June 2026.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Southern Europe]]

[[Category:Geography]]

[[Category:Italy]]

[[Category:Locations]]