Jordyn Haller

International Business

Cultural Analysis-Italy

Italy is in south central Europe. It consists of a peninsula shaped like a heeled

boot with several islands. The Mediterranean Sea is to the south and the Alps to the north. The

Apennines mountains are located down the center of the peninsula. The lower slopes of the

Alps are covered forests and above are meadows with wildflowers. Italians have cleared fields,

grazed livestock, and hunted wild animals for the longest time. Forests that were once large

areas are gone but the country still has many national parks. The climate is generally a

temperate Mediterranean caused by mountains and hilly areas. Italy is most famous for its

contributions of art, architecture, fashion, literature, and design. The majority of people are

Italian but there are other ethnic groups including French, Slovene, Albanian and Greek Italians.

Italy’s population consists of 60.42 million people. Since the rise of the Roman Empire, Italian

art, architecture, and culture has influenced many around world. Since World War II, Italy has

improved their economy greatly. Industries began to grow and as Italy became well known they

also became one of the world’s leading economies, with its main exports being clothing, shoes,

food, and wine. Rome is the capital of Italy and is home to various government institutions

including presidency, legislature, judiciary, and diplomatic representatives. Rome is the center

for Religion. In fact, all of Italy is known for its Catholic religion and churches governed from

Vatican City. With religion being an important part of its economy so is family. Many families

use food as a way of establishing and maintaining ties with family and friends. No one who

enters an Italian home should fail to receive an offer of food and drinks. All meals are to be

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eaten together with lunch being the most important meal of the day. In relation to families

there is a difference between the north and south parts of Italy. Italy has a high unemployment

rate, and the differences between the rich and poor are very much noticeable. The style of

dress, choice of food and recreation you take part in all depends on your social class and rank.

The more education you have the closer of speech you have to the national language as well as

a higher rank. Overall, from the food, religion, government, and history, Italy is a beautiful place

that you will remember forever.

Italy is the world’s fifth largest industrial economy with a GDP of $2.106 trillion as of

2021. Italy is well known for its influential and innovative business economy. They are the

world’s largest wine producer and manufactures high quality products including cars, ships,

homes, appliances, and designer clothing. Italy currently has a positive trade balance of $30.4

billion with annual exports of $509 billion against imports. Some of their top exports include oil

and mineral fuels, iron, steel, stones, gold, and coffee. Italy’s top imports include crude

petroleum, petroleum gas, refined petroleum, electricity, and hot-rolled iron. As you may

notice petroleum is a top import. The reason that Italy imports products from the energy sector

is because they have very few oil deposits, because of this they need minerals and metals to

manufacture goods. With that being said 63% of Italy’s exports are delivered to other European

trade partners. The top destinations include Germany, France, USA, Spain, and The United

Kingdom. I believe trading with the US is a smart economic move for Italy. The United States

and Italy cooperate closely on some major economic issues. The US-Italy partnership is one of

the strongest as Italy is a leader in peacekeeping and military operations around the world. Italy

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has also worked closely with the US in combating drug and human trafficking as well as

terrorism. Because Italy has a positive trade balance, their economic growth continues to grow,

leading to more employment.

Italy is a land steeped in history and culture. Cities and towns located in Italy witness the

beauty of palaces, fortifications, and historic parks. The history of Italy covers the ancient

period, the Middle Ages, and the Modern era. Rome was founded on April 21, 753 BC by

Romulus and Remus, twin brothers who claimed to be sons of the war god mars. Rome went

through seven kings until the last king was overthrown. A combination of economic problems,

invasions, rebellions combined with a lack of leadership resulted in a decline in Rome. But with

the strong support of the United States, Italy rebuilt its economy through loans from the

Marshall Plan. They also joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and became a strong

supporter of the European Union. Italy’s long history is dominated by the three R’s: The Roman

Empire, The Renaissance, and The Risorgimento. During The Roman Empire, Italy was one of

the largest empires in the world. This empire spread to dominate the Mediterranean and

Western Europe. The wealth of Italy then led to the monuments of the Ancient World. The

Roman Empire was a major part of Italy’s history and left a mark on the culture and society that

outlasted the military and political leadership of Italy. During the Renaissance there was

massive artistic and cultural achievement that led to the rest of Europe. The most iconic Italian

paintings, sculptures and buildings were made during this time. This included Primavera and the

birth of Venus of Sandro Botticelli. Italian art reached its peak later with the works of Leonardo

da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. During The Risorgimento people in Italy started

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associating islands throughout the peninsula. The creation of a single Italian State quickly

became one of the major powers in the world. These three periods were the most definitive

moments in Italian history and made Italy the beautiful place it is today.

Italy is a Mediterranean country located in Southern Europe and is shaped like a boot.

The country as a whole is referred to as “the boot.” The Puglia Region in the southeast being

the “heel to the boot” and the Calabria region in the southwest being the “toe of the boot.” It is

bordered by the Adriatic Sea on the east coast and the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west coast. In the

north, Italy is bordered by the countries of France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Italy is

known for its Mediterranean climate which is generally cooler and wet but hot during the

summer. Southern Italy has a hot and dry climate while the North has a more Alpine climate

with lots of snow in the winter. 40% of Italy’s land is mountains with major mountain ranges

including the Alps and the Apennines. Also, in these mountains you can find a wide range of

species such as wild bears, wolves, asps, and bears. Although Italy is mostly a dry climate, the

country has many lakes and rivers that includes the Alpine Lakes, glacier-carved valleys, the Po

River, and Piedmont. This geography provides for a wide access to marine fishing areas. It is

divided into 20 different regions with different cultures, customs, and food, because of these

tourists remark on how unlike all the different towns are. The central region of Italy is the most

popular and visited by tourists. Italy’s population is over 60,400,000, with the largest city being

Rome. One of Italy’s Natural Resources is Arable land which takes up 22.4% of the total land

and is utilized for agricultural purposes. Other natural resources include metals and minerals.

The best time to visit this beautiful city is July which is the hottest month with temperatures

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reaching up to 86 degrees. If you happen to hate the hot weather, then you could always come

in January which is the coldest month. Either way you would be able to enjoy everything that

Italy has to offer.

The cultural heritage of Italy is an inescapable presence. It’s wealth comes from

monuments, churches, and palaces. Italy has more than 700 cultural institutes, over 300

theatres, and over 6,000 libraries. Italy’s museums contain the most important collections from

ancient civilization. Italy’s museums belong to the Italian State, with half to the local

authorities, small portion to the public and the rest to private owners. The library system in

Italy is controlled by The Central Office for Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Institutes. This

oversees the work of cataloging and conserving the nations books. The two principal national

libraires are based in Rome and Florence. The cultural institutes for academics and societies

represent most of Italy. Italy’s most famous learned society is from The National Academy of

Lincei where Galileo was once a member. Foreign schools that were made for the Italian art and

culture mostly contributed to the academic life in the country. Constitutions in Italy give the

freedom of art, science, and teaching. Public schools are open to all and makes opportunities

for scholarships and grants. Private schools however are run by religious bodies. Education is

usually for ages six to sixteen. Primary schools are attended by children between the ages of six

to eleven. Secondary schools are ages eleven to fourteen, but different for people wishing to

study music. Postsecondary schooling is not required but if attended the first level takes

between 2 to 3 years to gain a diploma. The second level is between 4 to 6 years to gain a

university degree. Lastly, at the third level it usually takes between 2 to 5 years to receive a

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doctorate. The Italian Constitution establishes that education is accessible to everyone and is

free between the ages of six to sixteen. Education is the best prospect industry sector for Italy.

While getting an education, you start to learn about the political life and government in

Italy. Italy is a republic with twenty regions under the central government. There are three

branches of government which include the executive, judicial and legislative. The legal system is

a combination of civil and ecclesiastical law. Ecclesiastical law is the body of law derived from

civil law and treats appeals with new trials. The Constitutional Court has the power of the

judicial review. The president and prime minister head the executive branch. In the parliament

there are two houses which consist of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. All voters must be

25 to vote for senators. You can be 18 to vote for all other elections. Italy is a member of the

North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The president is the commander of armed forces and chairs

the Supreme Council of Defense. The major parties in Italy include Olive Tree, Freedom Pole,

Northern League, Communism Refoundation, and Italian Social Movement. The Olive Tree is

the party of the democrat left and the Freedom Pole is the party of the right. Most of the

crimes in Italy come from Mafia. Street crimes are the most common with murder being a big

problem. There are certain rules of respect for people in power. Presents are given and support

is promised in return.

The social welfare system of Italy had to cut its involvement in certain programs to cut

its budget deficits. This affected unemployment insurance, retirement pensions, and child

support. Italy’s welfare system is still impressive compared to the US. The two main social

classes of Italy include Bourgeoisie which is the high-class entrepreneurs, managers, politicians,

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and high-ranking celebrities. The other social class is the White-collar middle class which is

middle class workers that are not employed in manual work. Most of the jobs in Italy do not

consist of Religion but most people living in Italy do like to volunteer. The Catholic church is

involved in many charitable activities with the homeless, poor, orphans, and prisoners.

Leading into Religion, 90% of the population of Italy is Roman Catholic. The beliefs of the

Catholic church are mixed with older beliefs such as Arabic and Greek influences. Rome is the

center of the Roman Catholic religion. The seven sacraments form a framework for religious

beliefs. The sacraments include, Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Reconciliation,

Marriage, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick. Italy is filled with over 2000 years’ worth of

holy places. Holy days in Italy include Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and the Immaculate

Conception. In addition to these days the Pope may make appearances at blessings including

personal and family ones, and daily masses. Italians generally believe in the afterlife and heaven

and hell. Funerals take place in funeral parlors with respect for the dead. Failure to attend a

funeral is a breach of the relationship unless there is a valid reason.

Italian music has been a high esteem in history and some music is even considered high

art. This is because music has been one of the supreme expressions of art. Italy hosts many

music festivals for all types of genres including classical, jazz and pop. Italy was also an

important country in the development of disco and electronic music with Italo disco being one

of the earliest electronic dance genres. In addition to music there are many theaters in Italy.

Italian theatre has been active in producing contemporary European work in staging important

revivals. The great names of Italy’s visual arts include Giotto, Donatello, Michelangelo, and

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Leonardo da Vinci. Not only do these arts of Italy include visual arts but fashion as well. Italy is a

world leader in fashion with an industry centered in Milan. Models, designers, and

photographers come to work in the houses of Versace, Gucci, Valentino, Prada and many more.

Overall, Italy was a forefront of the artistic developments of the Renaissance. Artists and

scholars in Italy were placed to take the lead in improving all aspects of Italian art.

The most common foods in Italy include pasta, cheese, vegetables, olive oil, meats, and

wine. Italians are known for fresh ingredients to prepare their meals. They typically have three

meals a day, breakfast (colazione), lunch (pranzo), and dinner (cena). Unlike the US, Italy’s most

important meal is lunch. Breakfast is the first meal of the day, typically a light meal consisting of

coffee with cookies or bread. Children get warm milk instead of coffee. Lunch is taken very

seriously and is a time to spend with friends and family. Some shops may even close for lunch.

Lunch consists of two courses the first being called antipasto. It consists of pasta, risotto, or

soup. The second course consists of meat or fish and includes coffee or an alcoholic drink.

Dinner takes up a lot of time for Italians usually lasting two hours with four or five courses.

Italians consider food an essential time to bond with friends and family. Although food is a

common bonding time for Italians different regions are known for different foods. In North Italy

they are known for rice, potatoes, cheese, fish, pork, and sausage. Central Italy is known for

pizza and spaghetti. And Southern Italy is known for olives, olive oil, tomatoes, peppers, garlic,

and ricotta. Italian cuisine is known for its wide variety of foods. People associate Italian food

with recognition to pasta, traditions and the social interaction between family and friends.

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 Italy’s housing is very expensive in cities like Milan and Rome. It is the 10 th richest nation

in the world, which means real estate in Italy is expensive. Italy is home to cities that are built

on top of bodies of water with a unique setup. The cost of living depends on your lifestyle and

where you choose to settle. Unlike the US there are more apartment complexes and condos

than houses. Italians appreciate the fresh air from outside, so they are more likely to open the

windows then run air conditioning. Refrigerators are much smaller than in the US which leads

to more trips to the grocery store to appreciate the outdoors of Italy.

What you wear in Italy is of high importance. Women vary in style with bright colors and

flashy designs. Women express themselves through fashion, with fashionable clothing typically

tight and according to size. When wearing makeup women wear simple and soft shades of

makeup and light nail polish. Men wear clothing that is well tailored. Shirts must fit close to the

body and pants usually barely touch the top of their shoes. Jackets are seen as inappropriate if

your shoulder cuffs are not where your shoulders are. When attending church men and women

refrain from wearing flashy clothing and colors. When visiting other places in Italy women

refrain from bare arms, wearing shorts and short skirts.

The national sport of Italy is futbol (American Soccer). This sport was influential to

Europe due to the expansion of the country. Cycling is also a popular sport because it has

brought international athletes to the towns and villages of North and South Italy. Other popular

sports include basketball, auto racing and tennis. Only a small percentage of the country is

involved in sports. But because of this Italy is known for cheering proudly for their beloved

country in the Olympics. Although sports aren’t a huge thing in Italy recreational activities are

endless. There are beautiful places to hike, walk or run in Italy with so many places to visit and

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explore. Because fashion is a big part of Italy, shopping is the most common activity you will

see.

Healthcare is mixed in Italy with public and private healthcare systems. Every citizen can

rely on the National Health Service which is why Italian healthcare has been ranked second in

the world by the World Health Organization. The National Health Service is very affordable and,

in some instances, free. A private physician on the other hand can be expensive without

medical insurance. The Italian Healthcare Service aims to ensure universal access to health

services for all citizens. Health care is guaranteed to everybody at low prices which is why

Italians have a much healthier lifestyle and diet compared to the rest of the world.

Italy’s official language is Italian. Although this is the case many Italians speak Germanic,

Slavic, Greek and Albanian languages. Not only is Italian the official language in Italy but

Switzerland and San Marino as well. This language is spoken from 85 million people throughout

the world. Italian is very much like Spanish and Latin but is not difficult to learn. If you choose to

learn Italian, you will never regret it. Italian is used in many parts of the world and a technical

language for business. Italian is not listed by the constitution as the official language, although

several courts have made legal decisions in identifying the language. Italian roots are in the

Tuscan dialect, this dialect was used by the upper class and writes of the Florentine society.

Italians were slow to adopt the expression of the new nation-state, identifying more

strongly with their regional dialects. In modern Italy, most people communicate in regional

dialects. An increase in regional dialects was due to the long history of separation into small

states and the colonization of France, Spain, and Austria. During the 14 th century, the Tuscan

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dialect began to dominate because of the location of central Italy with the economic power of

Florence. The spread of dialect and the Italian language happened in the 19 th century with

Italian becoming the standard language of a newly unified Italy. With this increase in language

and literacy it soon became accepted as a national language in the 1950s.

Overall, Italy has much to offer from food, culture, sights and more. Italy is endless in

exploring the outdoors and is known for its promising fashion. Italy is worth every penny and is

worth the journey and destination.

Works Cited

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in-brief/.

Britannica. “Italy - Cultural Institutions.” Encyclopedia Britannica,

www.britannica.com/place/Italy/Cultural-institutions.

Clark, Martin, and Paola E Signoretti. “Italy - Land.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 15 May 2019,

www.britannica.com/place/Italy/Land.

Commodity. “Commodities Trading: Italians Show Export Clout in Olive Oil but Can They Beat

the Spanish? Find out Here.” Commodity.com, 9 Nov. 2020, commodity.com/data/italy/.

Accessed 24 Apr. 2022.

“Culture of Italy - History, People, Clothing, Women, Beliefs, Food, Customs, Family, Social.”

Everyculture.com, 2009, www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Italy.html.

“Discover the Climate and Geography of Italy.” World Travel Guide, 2017,

www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/europe/italy/weather-climate-geography/.

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“Healthcare in Italy - Why Is It among the Best in the World?” Just Italy Travel Guide, 28 Mar.

2020, www.justitaly.co/healthcare-in-italy-why-is-it-among-the-best-in-the-world/

#:~:text=Some%20essential%20elements%20emerge%20from%20this%20report%3A

%201. Accessed 24 Apr. 2022.

https://www.facebook.com/thoughtcodotcom. “A Quick Look at 2,500 Years of Divided Italian

History.” ThoughtCo, 2019, www.thoughtco.com/summary-of-italian-history-1221657.

https://www.facebook.com/tripsavvytips. “Italian Geography Map, Facts, and Climate.”

TripSavvy, 2019, www.tripsavvy.com/the-geography-of-italy-4020744.

“Living Conditions.” Italy, nolanitaly.weebly.com/living-conditions.html. Accessed 24 Apr.

2022.

Powell, James M, and Russell L King. “Italy - Education.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Mar.

2019, www.britannica.com/place/Italy/Education.

Ratini, Melinda. “What Is a Typical Italian Diet?” MedicineNet, 1 Oct. 2021,

www.medicinenet.com/what_is_a_typical_italian_diet/article.htm.

Sommer, Peter. “Italian History | Find out about the History of Italy.” Peter Sommer Travels,

2017, www.petersommer.com/italy/history.

“Top 10 Italy Sports - the Ultimate Guide.” Just Italy Travel Guide, 17 Dec. 2018,

www.justitaly.co/top-10-italy-sports/.

U.S. Department of State. “U.S. Relations with Italy.” United States Department of State, 20 July

2020, www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-italy/#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20and

%20Italy%20cooperate%20closely%20on.

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“What Are the Major Natural Resources of Italy?” WorldAtlas, 29 July 2019,

www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-major-natural-resources-of-italy.html#:~:text=

%20Italy%27s%20Natural%20Resources%20%201%20Arable%20Land..

“What Are the Social Classes in Italy?” Askinglot.com, 6 Apr. 2020, askinglot.com/what-are-the-

social-classes-in-italy.

“What Languages Are Spoken in Italy?” WorldAtlas, 29 July 2019,

www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-italy.html?

msclkid=94ecbc6bc26111ecb106a5fd2a03e575. Accessed 24 Apr. 2022.

Writer, Staff. “What Kind of Clothes Do People Wear in Italy?” Www.reference.com, 8 Apr.

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9acce8fa938e45db.

Appendix
Appendix A. Executi ve Summary………………………...……………………………1
Appendix B. Introducti on……………………………………………………………..……2
Appendix C. Italy’s History…………………………………………………………………3
Appendix D. Geographical Setti ng…………………………………………………….4
Appendix E. Social Insti tuti ons……………………………………………………….5,6
Appendix F. Religion…………………………………………………………………….…….7
Appendix G. Living Conditi ons…………………………………………………………8,9
Appendix H. Language………………………………………………………………………10
Appendix I. Works Cited……………………………………………………….11,12,13

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