Do Italians think of themselves as Romans? (place, culture, move)

[John Mancini]

Clearly, 99% of Italian Americans don't think they are descended from Romans. They would sooner take pride in the Mafia than in Rome. Catholicism made sure to drain whatever classical heritage we had. Ironically, the Vatican Church owes ancient Rome an eternal debt for standardizing its dogma, establishing its organization, and giving it powers that no other religion ever had. Hollywood movies and the lack of ethnic education completed the destruction of our classical heritage. You don't see Greek Americans denying their classical legacy, largely because their church and their parents support Greek School. Same with Jews and many other ethnic groups.

Yes, Italy was diverse. The Romans were an Italic tribe just as the Sicels of Sicily, the Samnites od Abruzzo and the other tribes mentioned. The Italian peninsula also contained Greeks, Etruscans, and Celts. The Romans unified Italy in 222 BC, a year before China and by the time of Christ all these ethnic groups became Roman citizens and spoke Latin. Garibaldi, Mazzini, and Cavour only reassembled what the Romans had created. Isn't that more logical than believing they created Italy from scratch?

I would recommend visiting Italic Institute of America, Italian Heritage, Italian American Heritage and checking out their archives to begin understanding how important classical Italy was, and still is. There would have been no Renaissance without it, nor a people called Italians.

[Katiethegreat]

" Robbers of the world,Alone among men they covet with equal eagerness poverty and riches. To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire" - Pictish leader calgacus on the Romans.

[cloxias]

Italians feel proud of most of their elements of invasion in their culture.


Some do like to see themselves as Romans, while others as just anything like Greeks, Etruscans etc.

[Handyman44]

Italians are a mix of everything, especially the south. The roman time is a long time to go so its not logical to refer to that.

[daniellalucydalcol]

Some Italians think they are Romans.

[daniellalucydalcol]

Some Italians think that they are Romans & would do anything to protect all of what is Roman.

[easthome]

Surely the Italians that live in Rome are Roman's no?

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by easthome

Surely the Italians that live in Rome are Roman's no?

That bloke who owns Chelsea is a Roman.

[easthome]

Originally Posted by Brave New World

That bloke who owns Chelsea is a Roman.

I don't care what he is called, he is nearly 'God' in my eyes!!! :-)

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by easthome

I don't care what he is called, he is nearly 'God' in my eyes!!! :-)

LOL.