Milan History, Italy

Fashion, design, media, and commerce… few words that are synonymous to the name of the Italian city of Milan. It is considered as one of the economic powerhouse of Italy and is the largest city in the northern part of the peninsula. Just like any other cities in the world, Milan boasts a rich history and dynamic culture that has been the subject of notable literary personalities. Its development as a busy and prosperous city that one can behold today is a product of more than two thousand years of cultural and historical evolution.

The humble beginning of Milan dates back during the sixth century B.C. History has it that at the origin of the city there were the Celts. During these times, the Roman Empire has begun its siege and conquest to the neighboring city-states. This Celtic settlement was finally brought down under Roman rule in 222 B.C. and was officially named Mendiolanum. Despite this defeat, rebels broke out and in attempt to counter the Roman military force; Mendiolanum allied itself to Carthage- Rome’s most significant rival and enemy. This allegiance however, did not succeed and Mendiolanum eventually was incorporated as one of the states ruled by the Caesars.

As one of the pristine provinces of Rome, Milan played a vital role of becoming the Western Roman Capital during the great division of the Roman Empire in 286 A.D. It was during this period that Milan standed as the Western Capital, Christianity became fully accepted and incorporated in the Roman Empire through the Edict of Tolerance issued by Emperor Constantine the Great.

This role of Milan continued until the sacking by the northern barbaric tribes in 539 A.D. The dark period in the history of Milan stretched until the 12th century when an independence movement called comuni sprouted in the northern provinces of Italy. This movement however proved to be short-lived. The democratic rule that guided Milan was overrun by the reigning power of the influential Visconti and Sforzas families. During their governance, Milan was able to regain its renowned supremacy in the political and cultural arena.

The end of the Sforzas rule during the early 16th century paved the way for foreign domination and influence. These include the Spanish domination and the Hapsburg rule (Austrian). Milan further experienced foreign ruling following the French Revolution during the Napoleonic Era. Lastly, the defeat of Napoleon ushered the rule of Astro-Hungarian reformists. It was during this time that Milan rebelled (1848) and was incorporated into the Savoy Kingdom which later evolved to become the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

Milan’s history was engraved with the Fascist movement in 1919. The rise of Milan however, occurred after World War II. To date, Milan has transformed itself into a city bustling with activities suited for the greats and the elites.

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• The best clubs and parties in Milan
  review by vcppow posted more then 30 days ago
  Night life in Milan is fascinating because it is constantly changing. Of course there are tried and true institutions that never go out of fashion, but new places constantly spring up and become popular overnight, their features spread by word of mouth. Clubs are eclectic and the themes and...
• All you have to know about Milan
  review by vcppow posted more then 30 days ago
  Milan, known for devotion to fashion and design, is the principle city of Northern Italy and a major economic force in Europe. The population of Milan and the surrounding area is over 7,400,000 making it the third largest metropolitan area in Europe. Located in the lush agricultural fields of...
• What to know about Milan before you get there
  review by vcppow posted more then 30 days ago
  The history of Milan is as interesting and complicated as that of any importantcity. Milan began as an ancient Celtic settlement around 600BC and was added to the Roman Empire in 222BC. By the 4th century, Mediolanum, its Roman name, was the second largest city in Europe and capital of the...

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• Milan Baptistery
  travel tip by blackangel_66 posted more then 30 days ago
  It's Italian name is Battisero Paleocristiano and it is a early Christian Baptistery from the 4th century. Archaeologists say that most probably this is the place where the Bishop of Milan, St. Ambrose baptized the man who later became...

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