Basilicata
Encyclopedia
Basilicata also known as Lucania
, is a region in the south of Italy
, bordering on Campania
to the west, Apulia
(Puglia) to the north and east, and Calabria
to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea
between Campania
in the northwest and Calabria
in the southwest, and a longer one to the southeast on the Gulf of Taranto
on the Ionian Sea
between Calabria in the southwest and Apulia
in the northeast. The region can be thought of as the "instep" of Italy, with Calabria functioning as the "toe" and Apulia the "heel". The region covers about 10,000 km2 and in 2010 had a population of about 600,000. The regional capital is Potenza
. The region is divided into two provinces: Potenza
and Matera
.
Basilicata covers an extensive part of the southern Apennines, between Ofanto
in the north and the Monte Pollino massif in the south. It is bordered on the east by a large part of the Bradano
river depression which is traversed by numerous streams and declines to the south eastern coastal plains on the Ionian sea
. The region also has a short coastline to the south west on the Tyrrhenian
side of the peninsula.
Basilicata is the most mountainous region in the south of Italy
, with 47% of its area of 9,992 km2 covered by mountains, where as 45% is hilly and 8% is made up of plains.
Geological features of the region include the volcanic Monte Vulture
and the seismic faults in the Melfi
and Potenza
areas in the north and around Monte Pollino in the south. Much of the region was devastated in an 1857 earthquake. More recently, there was another major earthquake in 1980.
The combination of the mountainous terrain combined with the rock and soil types makes landslides prevalent. While the lithological structure of the substratum and its chaotic tectonic deformation contribute to the cause of landslides, this problem is compounded by the lack of forested land. This area, similar to others in the Mediterranean region, while originally abundant with dense forests, was stripped and made barren during the time of Roman rulers.
The variable climate is influenced by three coastlines (Adriatic, Ionian
and Tyrrhenian
) and the complexity of the region's physical features. The climate is continental in the mountains and Mediterranean along the coasts.
. Late Cenozoic
fossils, found at Venosa
and other locations, include elephants, rhinoceros and species now extinct such as the Machairodus
saber-toothed cat
. Examples of rock paintings, from the Mesolithic
have been discovered near Filiano
. From the 5th millennium BC people stopped living in caves, and built settlements of huts up to the rivers leading to the interior (Tolve
, Tricarico
, Alianello, Melfi
, Metaponto
). In this period, the Homo sapiens sapiens lived out of cereals cultivation and animal husbandry (Bovinae
and Caprinae). Chalcolithic sites include the grottoes of Latronico
and the funerary findings of the Cervaro grotto near Lagonegro
. The first known stable market center of the Appennine culture on the sea, consisting of huts on the promontory of Capo la Timpa, near to Maratea
, dates to the Bronze Age
.
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The first indigenous Iron Age
communities lived in large villages in plateaus located at the borders of the plains and the rivers, in places fitting their breeding and agricultural activities. Such settlements include that of Anglona
, located between the fertile valleys of Agri
and Sinni, of Siris
and, on the Ionic Coast
, of Incoronata-San Teodoro. The first presence of Greek colonists, coming from the Greek islands and Asia Minor
, date from the late 8th century BC.
There are virtually no traces of survival of the 11th-8th century BC archaeological sites of the settlements (aside from a necropolis at Castelluccio
) on the Tyrrhenian coast
: this was perhaps caused by the increasing presence of Greek colonies, which changed the balance of the trades.
, named for the Lucani
(Lucanians) tribe, who were the first known settlers. Their name was derived from lucus, Latin for "forest". Samnite
tribes also inhabited the area.
Starting from the late 8th century BC, the Greeks established a settlement first at Siris
, founded by fugitives from Colophon. With the foundation of Metaponto
from Achaean colonists, it started the conquest of the whole Ionian coast. There were also indigenous Oenotrian
foundations on the coast, which exploited the nearby presence of the Greek such as Velia
and Pyxous for their maritime trades.
The first contacts between the Lucanians and the Romans
date from an anti-Samnite alliance of 33 BC. After the conquest of Taranto
in 272, the Roman rule was extended to the whole region: the Via Appia reached Brindisi
and the colonies of Potentia (modern Potenza
) and Grumentum
were founded.
, Basilicata fell to German rule, which ended in the mid-6th century when the Byzantines
reconquered it from the Ostrogoths. They also renamed the region as "Basilicata", from the Greek term basilikos, meaning "imperial". The region, deeply Christianized since as early as the 5th century, become part of the Lombard
Duchy of Benevento
in 568. In the following centuries, Saracen
raids led most of the population to move from the plain and coastal settlements to more protected centers located on hills. The towns of Tricarico
and Tursi
were under Muslim rule for a period.
In 968 it was reconquered by the Byzantines, and the theme of Lucania was established, with the capital at Tursikon (Tursi). In 1059 Basilicata, together with the rest of southern Italy, was conquered by the Normans. Later it was inherited by the House of Hohenstaufen, who were ousted in the 13th century by Angevine domination
: the expulsion of most of the "Saracen" population and the establishment of a strict feudal system hampered any hopes of an economic recovery for the region, which remained in abject poverty.
, the so-called "Conjure of the Barons", which included the Sanseverino
of Tricarico, the Caracciolo
of Melfi
, the Gesualdo of Caggiano
, the Orsini Del Balzo of Altamura
and Venosa
and other anti-Aragonese families. Later, Charles V
stripped most of the barons of their lands, replacing them with the Carafa
, Revertera, Pignatelli and Colonna
among the others. After the formation of Neapolitan Republic (1647)
, Basilicata also rebelled, but the revolt was suppressed. In 1663 a new province was created in Basilicata with its capital in Matera.
The region became part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
in 1735. Basilicata autonomously declared its annexation to the Kingdom of Italy
on August 18, 1860 with the Potenza insurrection. It was during this period that the State confiscated and sold off vast tracts of Basilicata's territory formerly owned by the Church
. As the owners were a handful of wealthy aristocratic families the average citizen did not see any immediate economic and social improvements after unification and poverty continued unabated. This gave rise to the phenomenon of brigandage
whereby the Church encouraged the local people to rise up against the nobility and the new Italian State. This strong opposition movement continued for many years.
It was only really after the World War II that things slowly began to improve thanks to land reform. In 1952, the inhabitants of the Sassi di Matera
were re-housed by the State, but many of Basilicata’s population had emigrated or were in the process of emigrating, which led to a demographic crisis from which it is still recovering.
At the beginning of 1994, UNESCO
declared Sassi di Matera
a World Heritage Site
. Meanwhile, Fiat
Italian automobile manufacturer established a huge factory in Melfi
, leading to jobs and an upsurge in the economy. In the same year the Pollino National Park
was established.
Among industrial activities, the manufacturing sector contributes to the gross value added of the secondary sector with 64% of the total, while the building sector contributes 24%. Within the services sector, the main activities in terms of gross value added are business activities, distributive trade, education and public administration. In the last years, new productive sectors have developed: manufacture, automotive, and especially oil extraction: in 2009 people employed by Eni
in this area were 230 (of which over 50% from Basilicata) and about 1,800 were employed in activities directly generated by Eni’s operations, distributed in 80 companies of which over 50% from Basilicata; the region produced about 100000 oilbbl/d, meeting 11 percent of Italy's domestic oil demand.
The population density is very low compared to that of Italy as a whole: 59.1 inhabitants per km² compared to national 200.4 in 2010. There is not a great difference between the population densities in the provinces of Matera and Potenza.
Lucania
Lucania was an ancient district of southern Italy, extending from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Gulf of Taranto. To the north it adjoined Campania, Samnium and Apulia, and to the south it was separated by a narrow isthmus from the district of Bruttium...
, is a region in the south of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, bordering on Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
to the west, Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
(Puglia) to the north and east, and Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
between Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
in the northwest and Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
in the southwest, and a longer one to the southeast on the Gulf of Taranto
Gulf of Taranto
The Gulf of Taranto is a gulf of the Ionian Sea, in southern Italy.The Gulf of Taranto is almost square, 140 km long and wide, and is delimited by the capes Santa Maria di Leuca and Colonna...
on the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
between Calabria in the southwest and Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
in the northeast. The region can be thought of as the "instep" of Italy, with Calabria functioning as the "toe" and Apulia the "heel". The region covers about 10,000 km2 and in 2010 had a population of about 600,000. The regional capital is Potenza
Potenza
-Transportation:Potenza is a rail junction on the main line from Salerno to Taranto, managed by FS Trenitalia; it has also a connection to Altamura, served by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane regional company...
. The region is divided into two provinces: Potenza
Province of Potenza
The Province of Potenza is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Potenza.-Geography:It has an area of 6,545 km² and a total population of 387,107 . There are 100 comuni in the province .-History:In 272 B.C. the province was conquered by the Greek army...
and Matera
Province of Matera
The Province of Matera is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera.It has an area of 3,447 km², and a total population of 203,837 . There are 31 comunes in the province . The main comunes by population are:- External links :* **...
.
Geography
Ofanto
The Ofanto, known in ancient times as Aufidus, from the Greek Ophidus, Ωφιδους, meaning snake, is a 170 km river in southern Italy...
in the north and the Monte Pollino massif in the south. It is bordered on the east by a large part of the Bradano
Bradano
The Bradano is an Italian river that flows southeast through Basilicata before emptying into the Gulf of Taranto. Its source is Lake Pesole in the province of Potenza. After crossing into the province of Matera, it is joined by a tributary. The Basentello and then the Bilioso join the Bradano...
river depression which is traversed by numerous streams and declines to the south eastern coastal plains on the Ionian sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
. The region also has a short coastline to the south west on the Tyrrhenian
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
side of the peninsula.
Basilicata is the most mountainous region in the south of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, with 47% of its area of 9,992 km2 covered by mountains, where as 45% is hilly and 8% is made up of plains.
Geological features of the region include the volcanic Monte Vulture
Monte Vulture
Mount Vulture is an extinct volcano located 56 km north of the city Potenza in the Basilicata region . As a prominent landmark it gave its name to the Vulture region, the most significant viticultural zone in Basilicata growing the DOC wine Aglianico del Vulture.With a height of 1326 m, it is...
and the seismic faults in the Melfi
Melfi
Melfi is a town and comune in the Vulture area of the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.-Geography:On a hill at the foot of Mount Vulture, Melfi is the most important town in Basilicata's Vulture, both as a tourist resort and economic centre.-Early history:Inhabited...
and Potenza
Potenza
-Transportation:Potenza is a rail junction on the main line from Salerno to Taranto, managed by FS Trenitalia; it has also a connection to Altamura, served by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane regional company...
areas in the north and around Monte Pollino in the south. Much of the region was devastated in an 1857 earthquake. More recently, there was another major earthquake in 1980.
The combination of the mountainous terrain combined with the rock and soil types makes landslides prevalent. While the lithological structure of the substratum and its chaotic tectonic deformation contribute to the cause of landslides, this problem is compounded by the lack of forested land. This area, similar to others in the Mediterranean region, while originally abundant with dense forests, was stripped and made barren during the time of Roman rulers.
The variable climate is influenced by three coastlines (Adriatic, Ionian
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
and Tyrrhenian
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
) and the complexity of the region's physical features. The climate is continental in the mountains and Mediterranean along the coasts.
Prehistory
The first traces of human presence in Basilicata date to the late Palaeolithic Age, with findings of the Homo erectusHomo erectus
Homo erectus is an extinct species of hominid that lived from the end of the Pliocene epoch to the later Pleistocene, about . The species originated in Africa and spread as far as India, China and Java. There is still disagreement on the subject of the classification, ancestry, and progeny of H...
. Late Cenozoic
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...
fossils, found at Venosa
Venosa
Venosa is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata, in the Vulture area. It is bounded by the comuni of Barile, Ginestra, Lavello, Maschito, Montemilone, Palazzo San Gervasio, Rapolla and Spinazzola....
and other locations, include elephants, rhinoceros and species now extinct such as the Machairodus
Machairodus
Machairodus was a genus of large machairodontine saber-toothed cats that lived in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America during the Miocene through Pleistocene living from 11.6mya—126,000 years ago, existing for approximately .-Species:...
saber-toothed cat
Saber-toothed cat
Saber-toothed cat or Sabre-toothed cat refers to the extinct subfamilies of Machairodontinae , Barbourofelidae , and Nimravidae as well as two families related to marsupials that were found worldwide from the Eocene Epoch to the end of the Pleistocene Epoch ,...
. Examples of rock paintings, from the Mesolithic
Mesolithic
The Mesolithic is an archaeological concept used to refer to certain groups of archaeological cultures defined as falling between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic....
have been discovered near Filiano
Filiano
Filiano is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Atella, Avigliano, Forenza, Ripacandida, San Fele....
. From the 5th millennium BC people stopped living in caves, and built settlements of huts up to the rivers leading to the interior (Tolve
Tolve
Tolve is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.-History:Remains of pre-historic settlements have been found in the nearby. In early historic times, the area was inhabited town of the Lucani, as testified by a tomb of a rich warrior from the 7th...
, Tricarico
Tricarico
Tricarico is a town and comune in the province of Matera, Basilicata, southern Italy.It is home to one of the best preserved medieval historical centres in Lucania.-Origins:The origin of Tricarico is presently unknown...
, Alianello, Melfi
Melfi
Melfi is a town and comune in the Vulture area of the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.-Geography:On a hill at the foot of Mount Vulture, Melfi is the most important town in Basilicata's Vulture, both as a tourist resort and economic centre.-Early history:Inhabited...
, Metaponto
Metaponto
Metaponto is a small town of about 1,000 people in the province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy. Administratively it is a frazione of Bernalda.-History:The town is best known for the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Metapontum...
). In this period, the Homo sapiens sapiens lived out of cereals cultivation and animal husbandry (Bovinae
Bovinae
The biological subfamily Bovinae includes a diverse group of 10 genera of medium to large sized ungulates, including domestic cattle, the bison, African buffalo, the water buffalo, the yak, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes...
and Caprinae). Chalcolithic sites include the grottoes of Latronico
Latronico
Latronico is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. Due to its high elevation it is much cooler, even in summer, than the larger cities along the coasts....
and the funerary findings of the Cervaro grotto near Lagonegro
Lagonegro
Lagonegro is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is part of the Vallo di Diano, near the province of Salerno....
. The first known stable market center of the Appennine culture on the sea, consisting of huts on the promontory of Capo la Timpa, near to Maratea
Maratea
Maratea is a town and comune of Basilicata, in the province of Potenza. It is the only town of the region on the Tyrrhenian coast and because of its beautiful scenery and coastline it has been called "the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian"...
, dates to the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
.
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
communities lived in large villages in plateaus located at the borders of the plains and the rivers, in places fitting their breeding and agricultural activities. Such settlements include that of Anglona
Anglona
Anglona is a historical region of northern Sardinia, Italy. Its main center is Castelsardo.-Agriculture:Anglona is bounded by the sea northwards, from east by the Coghinas river, from south by Monte Sassu and from west by the Silis River and the Monte Pilosu....
, located between the fertile valleys of Agri
Agri River
The Agri is a 136 km long river in southern Italy. It flows through the region of Basilicata and into the Ionian Sea, near Policoro. In ancient times it was known as Aciris ....
and Sinni, of Siris
Siris (Magna Graecia)
Siris was an ancient city of Magna Graecia , situated at the mouth of the river of the same name flowing into the Tarentine gulf, and now called the Sinni.-History:...
and, on the Ionic Coast
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
, of Incoronata-San Teodoro. The first presence of Greek colonists, coming from the Greek islands and Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
, date from the late 8th century BC.
There are virtually no traces of survival of the 11th-8th century BC archaeological sites of the settlements (aside from a necropolis at Castelluccio
Castelluccio
Castelluccio is a village in Umbria, in the Apennine Mountains of central Italy. Administratively, it is a frazione of the ca. 28 km distant town Norcia. According to the 2001 census, it had close to 150 inhabitants.-Geography:...
) on the Tyrrhenian coast
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
: this was perhaps caused by the increasing presence of Greek colonies, which changed the balance of the trades.
Ancient history
In ancient historical times region was originally known as LucaniaLucania
Lucania was an ancient district of southern Italy, extending from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Gulf of Taranto. To the north it adjoined Campania, Samnium and Apulia, and to the south it was separated by a narrow isthmus from the district of Bruttium...
, named for the Lucani
Lucani
Lučani is a town and municipality located in the Dragačevo region within the Moravica District of Serbia . The population of the town is 3,425, while population of the municipality was 20,855....
(Lucanians) tribe, who were the first known settlers. Their name was derived from lucus, Latin for "forest". Samnite
Samnium
Samnium is a Latin exonym for a region of south or south and central Italy in Roman times. The name survives in Italian today, but today's territory comprising it is only a small portion of what it once was. The populations of Samnium were called Samnites by the Romans...
tribes also inhabited the area.
Starting from the late 8th century BC, the Greeks established a settlement first at Siris
Siris (Magna Graecia)
Siris was an ancient city of Magna Graecia , situated at the mouth of the river of the same name flowing into the Tarentine gulf, and now called the Sinni.-History:...
, founded by fugitives from Colophon. With the foundation of Metaponto
Metaponto
Metaponto is a small town of about 1,000 people in the province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy. Administratively it is a frazione of Bernalda.-History:The town is best known for the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Metapontum...
from Achaean colonists, it started the conquest of the whole Ionian coast. There were also indigenous Oenotrian
Oenotrians
The Oenotrians were an ancient Italic people of unknown origin who inhabited a territory from Paestum to southern Calabria in southern Italy...
foundations on the coast, which exploited the nearby presence of the Greek such as Velia
Velia
Velia is the Italian name of the ancient town of Elea located on the territory of the comune of Ascea, Salerno, Campania, Italy in a geographical sub-area named Cilento...
and Pyxous for their maritime trades.
The first contacts between the Lucanians and the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
date from an anti-Samnite alliance of 33 BC. After the conquest of Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
in 272, the Roman rule was extended to the whole region: the Via Appia reached Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
and the colonies of Potentia (modern Potenza
Potenza
-Transportation:Potenza is a rail junction on the main line from Salerno to Taranto, managed by FS Trenitalia; it has also a connection to Altamura, served by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane regional company...
) and Grumentum
Grumentum
Grumentum was an ancient town in the centre of Lucania, in what is now the comune of Grumento Nova, c. 50 km south of Potenza by the direct road through Anxia, and 80 km by the Via Herculia, at the point of divergence of a road eastward to Heraclea.-History:The first settlements, of the...
were founded.
Middle Ages
After the fall of the Western Roman EmpireWestern Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
, Basilicata fell to German rule, which ended in the mid-6th century when the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
reconquered it from the Ostrogoths. They also renamed the region as "Basilicata", from the Greek term basilikos, meaning "imperial". The region, deeply Christianized since as early as the 5th century, become part of the Lombard
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
Duchy of Benevento
Duchy of Benevento
The Duchy and later Principality of Benevento was the southernmost Lombard duchy in medieval Italy, centred on Benevento, a city central in the Mezzogiorno. Owing to the Ducatus Romanus of the popes, which cut it off from the rest of Lombard Italy, Benevento was from the first practically...
in 568. In the following centuries, Saracen
Saracen
Saracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...
raids led most of the population to move from the plain and coastal settlements to more protected centers located on hills. The towns of Tricarico
Tricarico
Tricarico is a town and comune in the province of Matera, Basilicata, southern Italy.It is home to one of the best preserved medieval historical centres in Lucania.-Origins:The origin of Tricarico is presently unknown...
and Tursi
Tursi
Tursi is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata.-History:In the 9th century it was a stronghold of the Saracens in southern Italy.A Catholic bishop resided in the frazione of Anglona until 968...
were under Muslim rule for a period.
In 968 it was reconquered by the Byzantines, and the theme of Lucania was established, with the capital at Tursikon (Tursi). In 1059 Basilicata, together with the rest of southern Italy, was conquered by the Normans. Later it was inherited by the House of Hohenstaufen, who were ousted in the 13th century by Angevine domination
Capetian House of Anjou
The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...
: the expulsion of most of the "Saracen" population and the establishment of a strict feudal system hampered any hopes of an economic recovery for the region, which remained in abject poverty.
Modern and contemporary ages
In 1485, Basilicata was the seat of plotters against King Ferdinand I of NaplesFerdinand I of Naples
Ferdinand I , also called Don Ferrante, was the King of Naples from 1458 to 1494. He was the natural son of Alfonso V of Aragon by Giraldona Carlino.-Biography:...
, the so-called "Conjure of the Barons", which included the Sanseverino
Sanseverino
Sanseverino is a surname, and may refer to:* Roscemanno Sanseverino, 12th century cardinal* Ferdinando Sanseverino , prince of Salerno and Italian condottiero* Gaetano Sanseverino , Italian theologian...
of Tricarico, the Caracciolo
Caracciolo
Caracciolo is the surname of a famous noble family of southern Italy.Its members include:*Battistello Caracciolo, Italian painter*Carmine Nicolao Caracciolo, Spanish viceroy of Peru*Francesco Caracciolo, Neapolitan admiral and revolutionist...
of Melfi
Melfi
Melfi is a town and comune in the Vulture area of the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.-Geography:On a hill at the foot of Mount Vulture, Melfi is the most important town in Basilicata's Vulture, both as a tourist resort and economic centre.-Early history:Inhabited...
, the Gesualdo of Caggiano
Caggiano
Caggiano is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy....
, the Orsini Del Balzo of Altamura
Altamura
Altamura is a town and comune of Apulia, southern Italy. It is located on the Murge plateau in the province of Bari, 45 km South-West of Bari, close to the border with Basilicata. As of 2011 its population was of 69,728.-Overview:...
and Venosa
Venosa
Venosa is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata, in the Vulture area. It is bounded by the comuni of Barile, Ginestra, Lavello, Maschito, Montemilone, Palazzo San Gervasio, Rapolla and Spinazzola....
and other anti-Aragonese families. Later, Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
stripped most of the barons of their lands, replacing them with the Carafa
Carafa
Carafa is the name of a noble Neapolitan family of Italian nobles, clergy, and men of arts.* Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, , uncle of Paul IV...
, Revertera, Pignatelli and Colonna
Colonna family
The Colonna family is an Italian noble family; it was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one Pope and many other Church and political leaders...
among the others. After the formation of Neapolitan Republic (1647)
Neapolitan Republic (1647)
The Neapolitan Republic was a Republic created in Naples, which lasted from 22 October 1647 to 5 April 1648. It began after the revolt led by Masaniello and Giulio Genoino against the Spanish viceroys....
, Basilicata also rebelled, but the revolt was suppressed. In 1663 a new province was created in Basilicata with its capital in Matera.
The region became part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, commonly known as the Two Sicilies even before formally coming into being, was the largest and wealthiest of the Italian states before Italian unification...
in 1735. Basilicata autonomously declared its annexation to the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
on August 18, 1860 with the Potenza insurrection. It was during this period that the State confiscated and sold off vast tracts of Basilicata's territory formerly owned by the Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. As the owners were a handful of wealthy aristocratic families the average citizen did not see any immediate economic and social improvements after unification and poverty continued unabated. This gave rise to the phenomenon of brigandage
Brigandage in the Two Sicilies
Brigandage in the Two Sicilies had existed in some form since ancient times, however its origins as outlaws targeting random travellers would evolve vastly later on in the form of the political resistance movement form of brigandage in the Two Sicilies...
whereby the Church encouraged the local people to rise up against the nobility and the new Italian State. This strong opposition movement continued for many years.
It was only really after the World War II that things slowly began to improve thanks to land reform. In 1952, the inhabitants of the Sassi di Matera
Sassi di Matera
The Sassi di Matera are prehistoric cave dwellings in the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata. Situated in the old town, they are composed of the Sasso Caveoso and the later Sasso Barisano.-Geography:...
were re-housed by the State, but many of Basilicata’s population had emigrated or were in the process of emigrating, which led to a demographic crisis from which it is still recovering.
At the beginning of 1994, UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
declared Sassi di Matera
Sassi di Matera
The Sassi di Matera are prehistoric cave dwellings in the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata. Situated in the old town, they are composed of the Sasso Caveoso and the later Sasso Barisano.-Geography:...
a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. Meanwhile, Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
Italian automobile manufacturer established a huge factory in Melfi
Melfi
Melfi is a town and comune in the Vulture area of the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.-Geography:On a hill at the foot of Mount Vulture, Melfi is the most important town in Basilicata's Vulture, both as a tourist resort and economic centre.-Early history:Inhabited...
, leading to jobs and an upsurge in the economy. In the same year the Pollino National Park
Pollino National Park
The Pollino National Park is a national park in Basilicata and Calabria, southern Italy. Comprised within the provinces of Cosenza, Matera and Potenza, with its 1,820 square kilometres it is the largest natural park in the country...
was established.
Economy
Cultivation consists mainly of sowables (especially wheat), which represent 46% of the total land. Potatoes and maize are produced in the mountain areas. Olives and vines are also commonly found. A quality wine called 'Aglianico del Vulture' is produced around Rionero. According to the latest Census of Agriculture, there are large herds of cattle (77,711 heads in 2000).Among industrial activities, the manufacturing sector contributes to the gross value added of the secondary sector with 64% of the total, while the building sector contributes 24%. Within the services sector, the main activities in terms of gross value added are business activities, distributive trade, education and public administration. In the last years, new productive sectors have developed: manufacture, automotive, and especially oil extraction: in 2009 people employed by Eni
Eni
Eni S.p.A. is an Italian multinational oil and gas company, present in 70 countries, and currently Italy's largest industrial company with a market capitalization of 87.7 billion euros , as of July 24, 2008...
in this area were 230 (of which over 50% from Basilicata) and about 1,800 were employed in activities directly generated by Eni’s operations, distributed in 80 companies of which over 50% from Basilicata; the region produced about 100000 oilbbl/d, meeting 11 percent of Italy's domestic oil demand.
Demographics
Although Basilicata has never had a large population, there have nevertheless been quite considerable fluctuations in the demographic pattern of the region. In 1881, there were 539,258 inhabitants but by 1911 the population had decreased by 11% to 485,911, mainly as a result of emigration overseas. There was a slow increase in the population until World War II, after which there was a resurgence of emigration to other countries in Europe, which continued until 1971 and the start of another period of steady increase until 1993 (611,000 inhabitants). In recent years, however, the population has decreased as a result of migration and a reduction in the birth rate.The population density is very low compared to that of Italy as a whole: 59.1 inhabitants per km² compared to national 200.4 in 2010. There is not a great difference between the population densities in the provinces of Matera and Potenza.
Administrative divisions
Basilicata is divided into two provinces:| Province | Area (km2) | Population | Density (inh./km2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province of Matera Province of Matera The Province of Matera is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera.It has an area of 3,447 km², and a total population of 203,837 . There are 31 comunes in the province . The main comunes by population are:- External links :* **... |
3,447 | 203,837 | 59.1 |
| Province of Potenza Province of Potenza The Province of Potenza is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Potenza.-Geography:It has an area of 6,545 km² and a total population of 387,107 . There are 100 comuni in the province .-History:In 272 B.C. the province was conquered by the Greek army... |
6,545 | 387,107 | 59.1 |
See also
- The novel set in NoepoliNoepoliNoepoli is a comune in the province of Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. This ancient Lucanian village is situated in an idyllic position in the Sarmento Valley, at the heart of the Pollino National Park.-History:...
in Basilicata, My Heart Was Awake at: http://myheartwasawake.blogspot.com/ - Rocco Papaleo's comedy film Basilicata Coast to Coast (2010) at: http://www.basilicatacoasttocoast.it/
- David Yeadon's travel book, "Seasons in Basilicata", 2004, Harper Collins Publisher
- Tina Bochicchio Woetzel's history book, "Italian Emigrants, Italian Immigrants, the Labella family of Avigliano, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy ...", 2004, iuniverse.com
External links
- "Life is Beautiful - a travel music video
- Map of Basilicata
- Pollino Walking Into The Wild Side of Basilicata
- Basilicata autentica
- Basilicata Tourist Office
- Palazzo Rinaldi Artists' Residences in Basilicata
- Basilicata Tourist Office
- Documentary Film about the Sassi in Matera, Roba Forestiera, 44 min., 2004
- Sassi di Matera PHOTO Tour
- Basilicata's typical products
- Video introduction to Basilicata
- History, visit and spots of interest of art cities and villages of Basilicata
