Jeff Kabahli, age 16, of Wilmington, Dal., for his question:
WAS GENOA IN ITALY ONCE A COUNTRY?
Genoa today is Italy's busiest and largest port and a major industrial center. Settled in the 200s B.C. by the Romans, the city became the headquarters for the Roman fleet. When the Roman Empire fell during the A.D.400s. Genoa became an independent city state ruled by its nobles.
Leaders in Genoa developed its own defenses against barbaric tribes that invaded the Italian peninsula. A strong naval force was also bust during the mid 700s.
During the 1100s, Genoa joined the Crusades and established trading settlements in Constantinople, Cyprus, Syria and Tunis. At the height of its power in the 1200s, the independent state of Genoa controlled the central Mediterranean, including the islands of Corsica and Sardinia.
Genoa fought frequent wars with other Italian naval cities to maintain its power. A aeries of wars with Venice for control of trade in the eastern Mediterranean ended in 1380 with the defeat of Genoa. The city state gradually lost its power.
The Turks conquered most of Genoa s eastern possessions and its last remaining colony, Corsica, was sold to France in 1768.
Genoa had many problems at home, including conflicts between the nobles and the people over control of the government. The nobles fought many bloody feuds among themselves as well.
In 1339, a revolution overthrew the nobles and power went to a ruler called a dogs. The doge, a member of a prominent family, was elected by the people. In 1528, a new constitution set up a government ruled by the nobles.
In 1800, Genoa came under French control. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, Genoa fell under the rule of the Kingdom of Sardinia. And in 1861, the city became part of the newly formed Kindom of Italy.
Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa in 1451.
The city of Genoa lies on a narrow plain along the Gulf of Genoa and on the slopes of the surrounding mountains. It lies in northwestern Italy, between the Alps and the Apennine Mountains. The older part of the city is near the water and it has many narrow, winding streets and old shops and houses. The newer sections of the city are on the mountainsides.
The University of Genoa was founded in 1471. Also some of the early places today are museums filled with priceless art objects.
The port of Genoa today serves as northern Italy's chief outlet to the western Mediterranean Sea. Ships from Genoa carry farm goods produced in Italy's Po Valley. The port also provides an outlet from the manufactured products from the industrial centers of Genoa, Milan and Turin.
Genoa ranks second in size only to Marseille among all Mediterranean ports.