We will cover a portion of the turbulent 3,000-year history of Sicily, as the island has experienced many invasions. Some invaders came to exploit the island, but a few came to lavishly embrace it. We will concentrate on the ancient and medieval "golden ages:" the ancient, when Sicilian Greek colonies rivaled Greece as centers of culture; and the medieval, when the Normans established the Kingdom of Sicily, a unique multicultural state, where Latin and Greek Christians, Muslims and Jews all lived in relative peace and harmony. This "mosaic" of peoples eventually assimilated into a new and distinct Sicilian Culture and language. Required material: only curiosity and an open mind.
Suggested Reading: Mendola, Louis. 2013. The Peoples of Sicily, A Multicultural Legacy, New York: Trinacria Editions.
