April 10 - June 12

Storia d’Italia

1 hour weekly to learn about the Italian history, exploring a different period and theme each week.

Additional information

Join us for a one-hour weekly journey through Italian history, exploring a different period and theme each week. This course offers a dynamic and engaging overview of Italy’s rich and complex past — from pre-Roman civilizations to contemporary Italy.

Through carefully prepared presentations by Francesca, each lesson includes readings, images that tell stories, timelines, maps, and interactive quizzes to deepen understanding and encourage discussion.

 

  • Friday 12:00 – 1:00 pm PT

 

This course is ideal for students who want to deepen their understanding of Italian culture through history, gaining context that enriches language learning and cultural awareness.

 

LEVEL: Intermedio and up.

 

 

COURSE STRUCTURE

 

1 – Italy Before Rome

  • Pre-Roman civilizations
  • Italy as a geographic space, not yet a nation
  • Early cities and Mediterranean exchanges

2 – Republican Rome: Power and Society

  • From monarchy to republic
  • Roman expansion
  • Patricians, plebeians, and slaves
  • Political and administrative life

3 – Imperial Rome: Life in the Empire

  • From republic to empire
  • Governing the provinces
  • The Roman army
  • Daily life in ancient Rome
  • Crisis and fall of the Empire

4 – The Middle Ages: Powers and Territories

  • What is the Middle Ages?
  • Political and religious authority
  • Castles, monasteries, countryside, and cities

5 – Life in the Middle Ages & The Birth of Italian

  • Daily life and rural work
  • Food and social structures
  • Medieval art and culture
  • The origins of the Italian language

6 – The Italian Renaissance

  • Origins of the Renaissance
  • Italian city-states and signorie
  • Courts and humanism
  • Renaissance art and the lives of artists

7 – From the 1500s to the 1700s: A Divided Italy

  • Wars and foreign dominations
  • Regional states and shifting territories
  • Everyday life between the 16th and 18th centuries

8 – The 19th Century and Italian Unification

  • Italy in the early 1800s
  • A divided country without freedom
  • The Risorgimento
  • The Unification of Italy

9 – Fascism, War, and Resistance

  • World War I
  • The rise of Fascism
  • Daily life under the regime
  • World War II and the Resistance

10 – Italy from Postwar to Today

  • Post–World War II reconstruction
  • Emigration and immigration
  • The economic boom
  • Italy from the 1970s to the present

 

For additional information, please contact us via email at:
PRICE
$280/pers
+ 10$ nonrefundable registration fee
DURATION

10 Weeks

HOURS
Friday 12:00 - 1:00 pm PT
WHERE
Via Zoom

Let our students speak for us!

Truly a gem of a school
Erin Yu
"SFIIS runs a fantastic org and program - truly a gem of a school. The staff are warm and wonderfully efficient. I've done both in-person and online classes, and plan to continue for as long as I can. They cover all levels of Italian proficiency, with an engaging mix of private lessons, themed classes (e.g. Italian for Travelers), and regular Term classes. If you can, I highly recommend going in person for at least some lessons - they have a wonderful office in sunny North Beach."
Cannot recommend this online foreign language program for toddlers enough!
Andrea DiSandro
"First and foremost, let me sing praises for the incredible teacher, Francesca. She possesses a remarkable talent for not only teaching but captivating young minds. Her ability to blend learning and play seamlessly is nothing short of amazing. [...] What's truly heartwarming is witnessing my daughter's enthusiasm for her weekly class. [...] As a family that values multilingualism, I can confidently say that this virtual program stands head and shoulders above the rest. [...] I am beyond impressed and immensely grateful for the positive impact this program has had on our family. If you're seeking a top-tier virtual language learning experience for your little one, look no further. This program is truly amazing, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any parent seeking to enrich their child's linguistic abilities.
Beginners 1 experience
Jeffrey Jordan
"I just completed my first course with Istituto Italiano Scuola and was quite impressed. It was both rigorous and fun in balance, inspiring me to learn and take my Italian further than ever before. I'll be back for the next level course."
IL MIO POSTO FELICE!!!!
Leslie Hughes
“What I like most about participating in a literature class with the Istituto is having classmates with whom to discuss our books. I like hearing their opinions and responding to them. Reading is a great pleasure of mine, but sharing a book makes reading an adventure. With a teacher guiding us we improve our language skills and become more self-confident expressing ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity!”
The best way to maintain and improve my language skills
Dennis Abbe
“I have been taking classes at the SFIIS for years because, short of a long stay in Italy, it is the best way to maintain and improve my language skills. But more than that, I enjoy being with the other students and my instructor(s), many of whom are now good friends. In my class we read classic and contemporary Italian literature, and our instructor keeps us up to date on Italian culture and even politics. The experience on Zoom is almost as good as the in-person classes; Barbara is amazing in her use of the tools to run a lively, efficient, and fun class.”
I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes
Dede Heitman
“The SFIIS school offers the best, well rounded Italian languages classes in the Bay Area. With native speakers as teachers, the classes provide a comprehensive, natural and fun way of learning. Everyone feels welcome, no matter the level. The teachers are encouraging, entertaining and enthusiastic about their language and culture. As a bonus, I've made life-long friends through SFIIS classes. Please join our Italian language learning community!”
An authentic learning experience
SPEAK
ITALIAN
AND
LIVE
NEW
EXPERIENCES