Part 6/10:
Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Italy became a patchwork of city-states and kingdoms like Venice, the Papal States, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. These independent entities fostered remarkable regional cultures, dialects, and customs, creating a kaleidoscope of identities within the Italian peninsula. Remarkably, regions like Tuscany and Venice became known not just for their political influence but also for their contributions to trade and exploration—giving rise to famed figures such as Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus.