How did Naples evolve from Greek colony to Italian capital?

The history of Naples spans millennia, beginning with ancient Greek settlements in the second millennium BC that eventually grew into the major colony of Neapolis. Throughout its long existence, the city served as an important cultural and political center under Roman, Spanish, and Bourbon rule, functioning as the capital of various kingdoms until the unification of Italy in 1861. Today, it stands as the third-largest municipality in Italy by central population.

What we know

• Greek settlements in the Naples area date back to the 2nd millennium BC, with the mainland colony Parthenope founded in the 8th century BC and refounded as Neapolis in the 6th century BC. [2]
• Naples served as the capital of the Duchy of Naples, the Kingdom of Sicily, the Kingdom of Naples, and the Two Sicilies until Italian unification in 1861. [2]
• The Kingdom of Naples was established following the War of the Sicilian Vespers and ruled the Italian Peninsula south of the Papal States from 1282 to 1816. [4]
• The Jewish presence in Naples goes back at least 2,000 years, with a contemporary community numbering around 200 people. [5]

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureWhat was the Kingdom of Naples?
• how we knowHow did Caravaggio influence the Baroque in Naples?
• what caused itWhat caused the War of the Sicilian Vespers?
• whenHow long have Jewish communities lived in Naples?
• what followedHow does Italian unification connect to the Neapolitan War?
• an unexpected connectionWhy share a name with a Florida golf city?While the Italian city boasts ancient Greek and royal roots spanning thousands of years, its American namesake in Florida is a modern retirement and golf destination established long after European unification.

Sources

• [1]history of Naples (Wikidata Q1516549) · CC0 1.0
• [2]History of Naples · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Naples, Florida · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Kingdom of Naples · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]History of the Jews in Naples · CC BY-SA 4.0