History Summarized: Sicily

The plot twist of Medieval Italian History is that the main event was happening in the South — In the centuries before the Renaissance, Sicily and southern Italy were sporting one of the most spectacular cultures in the world, combining the greatest hits of Mediterranean history in one place. It's way cool, you guys.

SOURCES & Further Reading: "Sicily: An Island at the Crossroads of History" by John Julius Norwich, "The Great Cities in History" by John Julius Norwich, Great Courses Lectures "Muslims in the Court Of Roger II - 1130" from "Turning Points in Middle Eastern History" by Eamonn Gerron and "Renaissance Italy's Princes and Rivals" from "Renaissance: The Transformation of the West" by Jennifer McNabb

This video's topic was requested by our patron Salvatore Corasaniti. Thank you for supporting our channel!

Our content is intended for teenage audiences and up.

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[OverlySarcasticProductions]

I can't even begin to describe how much Ancient Sicily Content™ I had to cut for time.
Fear not, Magna Graecia will get the spotlight it deserves in another video.
-B

[Eyllena]

I love the how European history has so many moments of 'Surprise! Normans!'

[michaelscott]

"Big mess, lots of stabbing."
--Blue's greatest contribution to historical scholarship.

[avacurtis]

As a Sicilian I appreciate the empathy displayed about how much we are looked down upon by the people of northern Italy

[utubrGaming]

Sicily is the guy in the Mediterranean that has literally seen everything.

[erzar.]

The most Strategic triangle in the whole world!

[lucapeluso]

Fun fact that is easily overlooked: Naples liberated herself from fascist and nazist government during the Quattro giornate di Napoli. The allies just had to walk in unharmed cause the Germans had already fled from the city

[jean-paulaudette]

"The real trouble with mercenaries isn't so much that you have to pay them to fight...it's that, unless you're VERY lucky, you'll have to pay them again, to stop."

[gabrielamedeirosribeiro]

“Big mess, lots of stabbing”
“Fighting…. Blergegrgedh”
“Wild times, way off topic”

I love Blue’s way of avoiding the many many wars that happened throughout history

[josemiguelargueta]

Blue: *Gets excited*
Me: Oh he must’ve found another multicultural, multi ethnic, religiously tolerant home for intellectuals and artists somewhere new which promptly fell apart when it was taken over by intolerant people.

[koncave]

Blue: “Nerf the damn Normans”

History.exe: “We’ve heard your complaints. In update 11.94 Normans will be nerfed culturally by 50% and militarily by 25%”

[shin_taps]

My history teacher plays your videos in class. I’m officially beyond nerd trash.

[Kiwi-bmwf]

Sicilian history seems like the most ambitious crossover event that I’ve never heard of.




I’m mildly upset about this now, thanks Blue!

[Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

I see the Normans took a page from Palpatine's book of technically fighting on both sides of a war to ultimately consolidate power and take over everything. It's a pretty effective book, I don't know why more people haven't read it.

[ANDELE]

How blue interprets Norman rule: "Culture is Harmonic"
How Normans ruled: "I swear by Jesus carrying Yggdrasil, if you people dont get along Hrothga- i mean Henry "Slicer" the 3rd here will axe you so hard that the grandchild of your second nephew twice removed will feel it!"

[matteofinocchiaro]

So this is how it feels when Blue talks about where you live. I really wish more people from here had as much interest in our history as you do.
God, i never felt so patriotic.

[kevinhixson]

The 3 absolutes of history
"No one expects the Spanish inquisition"
"Surprise it's the Normans"
And "the Mongols are the exception"

[powredthebest]

As a Sicilian I'm very glad you made this video, a lot of don't know ho much history, culture and art Sicily has. Most people know Sicily only because of Mafia :(

[ozwolf]

Sicilly: a land so far in the background of Europe that even Blue spends a third of this video talking about other countries doing things somewhere else.

[blackcat]

I live in Sicily, I was born here in the capital and I grew up here with my father telling me the hidden stories of the city and visiting some of the most beautiful but hidden places. I always thought that this is the city of secrets, where many people who live here don't know this places and don't know their history. And I always wondered why it was like this. But now it's more clear. Thank you, Blue!