Sicily

• Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and is a Region of Italy.
• It was the Roman Province of Sicilia.

1. History

• Pre-Roman history:
  • The largest Island in the Mediterranean, it was originally populated by the Sicani, followed by the Elymians and the Sicels.
  • In the 11th century BCE, the Phoenicians arrived.
  • The Greeks colonised Sicily in the 8th century BCE and Sicily became part of Magna Graecia until the Pyrrhic War (290-275 CE) after which Magna Graecia was annexed to the Roman Republic.
  • Agrigento, Sicily, holds seven Greek Temples in the Valley of the Temples
• Acquisition by Rome:
  • In 241 BCE Sicily became the First Province of the Roman Republic which also included Malta.
• Timeline of this Province:
• Under The Roman Republic:
  • A Proconsular Province, it was an important source of grain to Rome. The farms were manned by Slaves bought from the great Slave market at Delos.
  • 139 and 104 BCE First Sicilian Slave Uprising
  • 91 BCE Second Sicilian Slave War
  • 44 BCE Rebellion of Sextus Pompey. After the Assassination of Julius Caesar Sextus name was placed on the List for Proscription. Sextus conquered Sicily, raised a Fleet and blockaded the Grain supply to Rome, conquering Sardinia and Corsica.
  • 36 BCE The Second Triumvirate invaded Sicily with 3 Fleets. Sextus fled to Miletus where he was captured and executed.
• After Augustus reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
• After Diocletian’s Reforms of (297 CE):
• After Death of Theodosius (395 CE):
• Post Roman History:
  • 440 CE Sicily fell to the Vandals under Geiseric.
  • 535-985 CE Sicily became a Province of the Byzantine Empire.
  • 827-1091 CE Sicily became an Arab Province.
  • 1091-1198 CE Sicily was ruled by the Normans.
  • 1198-1409 CE Ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor.
  • 1409-1861 CE Alternated between being ruled by Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and France.
  • 1861 Became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
• Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Diodorus Siculus (Diodorus of Sicily), the historian who wrote ‘World History’.
  • Calpurnius Siculus (Poet)
• Chief archeological Finds:
  • Temples of the Valley, Agrigento.
  • Temple of Apollo at Syracuse.
  • Villa Romana del Casale with unique Mosaics near the town of Piazza Armerina.
• Historic Battle Sites:
  • Battle of Agrigentum in 262 BCE, Agrigento.
• Main Historical Sources for this Province:

2. Geography

• Capital City:
  • Syracuse
• Chief Cities:
  • Taormina, Catania, Tindari, Palermo (Panormo), Termini, Agrigento (Agrigentum).
• Location Today:
  • Sicily
• Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Malta, Italia
• Climate and Temperature Today:
  • Mediterranean climate
    • Mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers:
    • February and March: 18-20°C with showers
    • April and May: 27°C
    • June, July and August temperatures in mid 30’s, due to the Scirocco wind blowing from the Sahara, and the Sea reaches 25°C.
    • September to October: 22-25°C
    • November and December: 16-17°C with wintry storms
• Main Geographical features:
  • Mount Etna
    • 10,990 ft (3,350m), Etna is an Active Volcano, the highest mountain in Italy south of the Alps and the highest active volcano in Europe.
  • Hundred Horse Chestnut
    • This is the oldest chestnut tree in the world estimated between 2-4,000 years old, and located 5 miles (8km) east of Mt. Etna’s centre.
• Main Rivers:
  • River Belice, R. Platani, R. Salso, R. Alcantara
• Mountain Ranges:
  • Mount Etna is covered in snow for 3 months of the year.
  • Peloritan Mountains, Nebrodi Mountains, Madonie mountains, Sicanian mountains.
• Islands
  • Aeolian Islands
    • Also known as the Lipari Islands: Lipari, Salina, Filicudi, Alicudi, the active Volcanic island of Stromboli, Panarea, Vulcano.
  • The Pelagian Islands: Lampedusa, Lampione, Linosa
  • The Egadi Islands: Favignana, Levanzo, Marettimo
  • Pantelleria, Ustica

3. Political Organisation

• Province Type:
  • Senatorial Propraetorial Province
    • Malta was included under the Governorship of Sicily.
• Governor:
  • Propraetor
    • Caius Verres (73-71 BCE)
      • He fled and was prosecuted in absentia by Cicero for misgovernment. Verres pocketed the money raised by the Sicilian Cities. ‘In Verrem’ is a series of speeches by Cicero, recorded during Verres Trial.
• Tribes and Population:
  • Greek
• Language:
  • Latin and Greek

4. Military Organisation

• Legions: None
• Navy:
• Defensive Works: None
• Main Threats:

5. Economy

• Chief Exports:
  • Grain, Fruits, Almonds, Wine, Honey, Cattle, Wool, Hides, Saffron.
  • Sicilian Sulphur and Alum.
• Agriculture and Fishing:
• Manufacturing:
• Mines:
  • Sulphur Mines (Sulphur is Latin for ‘Burning Stone’)
• Mints:

6. Transport

• Roads:
  • Catania-Agrigentum-Panormus
  • Catania-Thermae
  • A circular perimeter road connected all the coastal cities of Sicily.
• Waterways:
• Ports:
  • Syracuse, Marsala, Messina, Palermo, Catania, Taormina, Trapani, Agrigento
• Ancient Trade Routes:
  • Strait of Messina.
• Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

• Sicily was the Granary of the Roman Republic. Under the Republic it supplied Grain to Rome for 8 months of the year, the rest was supplied by Egypt.
• Sicily was Rome’s first Province, and became its the most peaceful Province.
• It’s Greek culture remained unchanged throughout the Roman occupation. Greek Temples still stand today all over Sicily.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

• An Early Christian community was encouraged by Paul the Apostle.
• In Syracuse, a network of catacombs was created on a scale second only to those of Rome, where Christianity could flourish in secret.
• First Bishop of Syracuse was St. Marziano.
• Two Martyrs: St. Agatha of Catania and St. Lucy of Syracuse.

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

10.0 Films

• Nero IMDb (2004)
  • TV miniseries with Hans Matheson and Laura Moranti, filmed in Sicily and Tunisia.

Sicily