CLAUDIA BALDOLI is Lecturer in History at the University of Newcastle, UK. Her publications include Bissolati immaginario. Le origini del fascismo cremonese dal socialismo riformista allo squadrismo (Cremona 2002) and Exporting Fascism: Italian Fascists and Britain's Italians in the 1930s (Oxford 2003).

'This is an excellent book. Its approach is highly original - covering a vast period of time and material through a broad 'cultural history' methodology. I learned a lot from this volume, and I am sure many other scholars and students will as well.' - John Foot, Professor of Modern Italian History, University College London, UK

• AcknowledgementsList of Maps, Chronologies, Windows and IllustationsIntroductionThe 'Barbarian' Middle Ages: Invasions, Culture, ReligionThe Middle Ages of the CitiesThe Middle Ages of the CourtsRenaissance Italy: From the European Model to the 'End of Italy'?Under Popes and Distant KingsA National Melorama: The Epic of the RisorgimentoLiberal ItalyFrom Hunger to Hedonism: Italy in the Twentieth CenturyConclusionSelect BibliographyIndex.

CLAUDIA BALDOLI is Lecturer in History at the University of Newcastle, UK. Her publications include Bissolati immaginario. Le origini del fascismo cremonese dal socialismo riformista allo squadrismo (Cremona 2002) and Exporting Fascism: Italian Fascists and Britain's Italians in the 1930s (Oxford 2003).

'This is an excellent book. Its approach is highly original - covering a vast period of time and material through a broad 'cultural history' methodology. I learned a lot from this volume, and I am sure many other scholars and students will as well.' - John Foot, Professor of Modern Italian History, University College London, UK

• AcknowledgementsList of Maps, Chronologies, Windows and IllustationsIntroductionThe 'Barbarian' Middle Ages: Invasions, Culture, ReligionThe Middle Ages of the CitiesThe Middle Ages of the CourtsRenaissance Italy: From the European Model to the 'End of Italy'?Under Popes and Distant KingsA National Melorama: The Epic of the RisorgimentoLiberal ItalyFrom Hunger to Hedonism: Italy in the Twentieth CenturyConclusionSelect BibliographyIndex.

CLAUDIA BALDOLI is Lecturer in History at the University of Newcastle, UK. Her publications include Bissolati immaginario. Le origini del fascismo cremonese dal socialismo riformista allo squadrismo (Cremona 2002) and Exporting Fascism: Italian Fascists and Britain's Italians in the 1930s (Oxford 2003).

'This is an excellent book. Its approach is highly original - covering a vast period of time and material through a broad 'cultural history' methodology. I learned a lot from this volume, and I am sure many other scholars and students will as well.' - John Foot, Professor of Modern Italian History, University College London, UK

• AcknowledgementsList of Maps, Chronologies, Windows and IllustationsIntroductionThe 'Barbarian' Middle Ages: Invasions, Culture, ReligionThe Middle Ages of the CitiesThe Middle Ages of the CourtsRenaissance Italy: From the European Model to the 'End of Italy'?Under Popes and Distant KingsA National Melorama: The Epic of the RisorgimentoLiberal ItalyFrom Hunger to Hedonism: Italy in the Twentieth CenturyConclusionSelect BibliographyIndex.