Aspects of Italian and American History
Exploration and Discovery
Italian explorers and discoverers have had an undeniable impact on the world. Individuals like Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo are well known; others are all but absent from traditional history books.
The Age of Exploration and Discovery coincides with the beginning of the Renaissance, a period that spans six centuries and is recognized as one of the greatest intellectual revolutions the world has known. During this time, Italy was not a unified country, but a collection of maritime republics and city states.