My Italian Heritage Essay

1091 Words3 Pages

Throughout most of my childhood, I always gravitated towards my Italian heritage more than any other of my birthrights. My great grandparents came to Lawrence, Massachusetts from Naples, Italy in search of a better life. They found it here in America by working in the factories and mills. Sadly, I only knew my great grandparents for a brief period of time before they all passed away. I thank them and her generation for taking us here, to the United States of America.
Italy has a current population of 58,742,000 people in the twenty first century. The geography consists of a mountainous peninsula in southern Europe, which then extends all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. This includes the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and numerous amounts of other smaller islands. The mountain range known as the Alps, forms Italy's border with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia (National Geographic). The majority of Italy has a Mediterranean climate, which is typically defined as having cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.
In 1861 Italy was unified under a monarch. …show more content…

There were numerous poems, legends, saint's lives, chronicles and similar literature written throughout history. The history of Italian artists involved in graphic art included: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Fra Angelico, Raphael, and many others that are very well known throughout the whole world. Italy is famous for all of its beautiful arts, especially during the Renaissance period (Advameg). Music from Italy is known as one of the greatest European arts. Some of the well-known Italian works include: the Gregorian chant, the troubadour song, and the madrigal. Italian musicians are frequently talked about and may incorporate: Giovanni Palestrina and Claudio Giovanni Monteverdi. Composers following them included: Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti, Gaetano Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi, and Vincenzo

Show More
Related

  • European Renaissance Dbq

    542 Words  | 2 Pages

    Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the most famous artists during the time of the Renaissance, The Mona Lisa for example, was a painting created between 1503 and 1506, it is the most famous painting ever painted. It is a portrait of the young wife of a Florentine silk merchant. It shows a young woman with her famous smile sitting on a balcony high above a landscape.

    Read More

  • American Immigrants In The 18th Century

    1440 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ellis island brought millions of immigrants to America between the years 1892 and 1954. It is said that 40% of our population today can trace their ancestors to Ellis Island. Many people of many nationalities came to The United States get a chance at having the “American Dream”. Whilst pursuing their dreams, they left their marks on American culture. No one has influenced us so much as the Italians and their way of life.

    Read More

  • Italian Immigration Diary Entry

    1232 Words  | 3 Pages

    My name is Michael and I am from a little town in Italy called Erice which is located in Sicily. In the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, my family and I left Italy to travel to the beautiful New York City. My family and I were included in the 1890 New York census, which concluded that about 75,000 Italian were born as residents in New York. This all occurred before the Emergency Quota Act, which was an act that stated that about only three

    Read More

  • Italian Immigration To Italy Late 1800's

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...rs, and women were paid even less. Following WWII the G.I. Bill was passed which provided servicemen with the opportunity to attend college, buy a home, or receive other types of training. The bill enabled a significant amount of Italians to move out of blue collar jobs and begin working in places of higher class. Some of these people even began opening their own businesses. Although following generations maintained certain pieces of their Italian culture, they incorporated American values into their lives by marrying other types from outside of their communities and moving out of the Little Italy communities that they had settled in. Today, direct descendants of the early Italian immigrants are believed to be around 16 million. Stereotypes and bad jokes aside, today, Italians are appreciated for their contributions to the American society, both past and present.

    Read More

  • Garibaldi's Migration To America

    384 Words  | 1 Pages

    Once arriving in America, many Italians struggled to settle into their new country and life. They came to find jobs and start over. Yet they were not welcomed. They had to work as laborers, live in the slums. However, their cultures and family lives were impacted because many families were separated due to the conditions in Italy and lack of

    Read More

  • Italian Immigrants in America

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    The peasants in the deprived, southern area of Italy and the island of Sicily had little hope of upgrading their lives. Many diseases and natural disasters spread through the area. On top of this, Italy's crumbling government was in no state to come to its people's aid. Word that life in America was soon spreading across the land, and more and more Italians found it difficult to resist the thought of a new and more prosperous life. Italian immigrants began piling in to Ellis Island in New York to take their first steps on U.S. soil in search for a new beginning (The Library of Congress, 2004).

    Read More

  • Essay On Italian Immigration

    636 Words  | 2 Pages

    Last but not least, the Italian-American’s contributed greatly to America’s past and left quite an imprint on our ‘melting pot’ culture. The Italian-Americans came to America following a dream; whether it be temporarily ‘escaping’ South Italy or a lifelong aspirations toward music. There perseverance and bravery left an impact stronger than words can express which assisted our future successes. Slowly yet steadily, Italians rose up the social ladder, opening up like a blossoming flower to their fellow Americans. Establishing their roots, then blossoming into a beautiful flower, revealing all beyond everyone’s expectations. Today, Italians have surpassed all the other ethnic groups in average job income and job prestigious, a true example of hard work paying off. As for, “Chi la dura la vince,”-He who perseveres wins at last...

    Read More

  • Essay On Italian American Culture

    525 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cultural diversity is about people who identify with a particular group based on where they grew up, their ethnicity, the language they speak, the values they hold and their beliefs. This doesn’t mean everyone will be the same or think the same. The differences of the Italian culture compared to European American culture is hard to see. Italy is filled more with culturally diverse people and respects more of the ethnic groups of the world. The Italian culture show this in their celebrations, food, music, and traditions. Their greetings and life style are known more to the European side of the world than the western side. Respecting diversity encourages people to accept the differences between groups

    Read More

  • Italian Song

    2107 Words  | 5 Pages

    Singing is one of the most highly enjoyed and respected forms of art for Italians. Opera began in Italy around 1600, and it is still an enormous part of the Italian spirit. Italians are zealous about opera and about good singing in general. Pictures of composers appear on national stamps, and streets in every town are named for musicians. Almost every small town has its own lyric theatre, and opera is programmed regularly on Italian radio and television. Music’s renown in Italy did not burst into bloom overnight. It progressed over time through the innovative minds of brilliant Italian composers and a developing social hierarchy. The development of Italian song is best traced through the composers who brought it into existence.

    Read More

  • The Italian Social Structure's Role in Creating Culture

    630 Words  | 2 Pages

    From antiquity to modern times, Italy has played a central role in world culture. Italians have contributed some of the world's most admired sculpture, architecture, painting, literature, and music, particularly opera. Although the nation was politically unified less than 150 years ago, the Italians do not consider themselves to be a "new" people, but see themselves instead as the descendants of the Ancient Romans. Moreover, regional differences persist because of natural geographical boundaries and the disparate cultural heritage that has come down from the Greeks, Etruscans, Arabs, Normans, and Lombards. Regional differences is evident in persistent local dialects, holidays, festivals, songs, and regional cuisine. Central to all Italian life is the tradition of family as the guiding force and focus of loyalty. Many Sunday's are spent around the table with aunts, uncles and grandparents for a special dinner.

    Read More

  • Italian Music

    1477 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Italian immigrants came to America, many were not welcomed in the communities of the Germans and Irish. The neighborhoods that the Itali...

    Read More

  • Family Is Important To Me

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    Right next to food, family is the most important thing in Italian culture. My mother was born and raised in Naples, Italy and lived with her mother and three siblings after her father passed away when she was only six years old. My mother and my grandmother had a very close bond, the same bond my mother and I share now. My grandmother was a very hands on type of mom my mother tells me. Like most mothers, her children were her pride and joy. My mother’s most vivid memories of her childhood involve my grandmother teaching her how to make tiramisu and lasagna. Practices my mother has now passed onto me. Aside from the cooking lessons, my mother also taught me what it means to be a women. Being independent, never giving up, and working for what

    Read More

  • Why I Want To Study Italy Essay

    1025 Words  | 3 Pages

    Visiting Europe has been a long dream for me, especially visiting Italy. Italy has fascinated for as long as I can remember. Italian history and culture has always been intriguing to me ever since I learned about the Roman Empire in elementary school. I’ve always had Rome as my number one place I want to visit in the world. However, due to my financial status, I never had the chance to go to outside any country except the United States and my native country, Peru. Being in college has given me the opportunity to study abroad in a place I’ve always dreamed of. My university, Loyola University Chicago, have their own campus abroad in Rome, Vietnam and Beijing. Being already enrolled in the university, choosing to study abroad is facilitated as all my financial aid, including the university’s, and credits will transfer. I actually never planned on studying but the opportunity my university gave me to study in a place I’ve always wanted to go was too good for me to pass on. I

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Michelangelo And Caravaggio

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    Michelangelo and Caravaggio at some point in history were the most famous artists in Rome, Italy. Michelangelo a prominent architect, poet, sculptor, and painter found his success in Italy during the High Renaissance period (1490-1527). While Caravaggio was the most popular painter in Rome and spearheaded the Baroque period (1650-1750). Artists like Caravaggio in the Baroque period turned to a powerful and dramatic realism, intensified by bold contrasts of light and dark. Michelangelo’s reputation as a painter fluctuated during the High Renaissance, but his devotion to his art and his genius undoubtedly influenced artists such as Caravaggio during the Baroque Period. However, each artist had incredibly different styles, and utilized different mediums in their most popular works of art. Despite that there are also many similarities which indicate Michaelangelo’s heavy influences on Caravaggio and Baroque Period art. The comparison will be between Michelangelo, Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Rome, Fresco. c. 1508-1512 and Caravaggio, Calling of St. Matthew, Contarelli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome, Oil

    Read More

  • Italian Food Research Paper

    609 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the words of Giuseppe Verdi, “You may have the universe if I may have Italy” (Brainyquote.com). Italy is one of the top hotspots for vacation, and there is a plethora of reasons why. Immediately upon arriving, you can smell the aroma of fresh, home-made foods. The beauty of the architecture in even the average buildings is overwhelming. The culture is unique and fascinating; unlike anything you will ever see anywhere else. There are so many places you could visit in Italy, you could spend a lifetime there, and it would never be enough. Rome, Tuscany, Pompeii, Pisa, Florence, and Venice are must-sees, to name just a handful. (http://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com) Italy is in essence, a paradise unlike any other, that everyone should have the privilege of enjoying. (pathos)

    Read More

More about My Italian Heritage Essay

Open Document