A country of southern Europe, Italy borders France to the west, Switzerland and Austria to the north, and Slovenia to the northeast. Italy has always been the driving force behind the cultural and social life of the Mediterranean, having been home to some of its most important civilizations. Italy has its problems, however; namely, the gap between the prosperous, industrial north and the poorer, agricultural south. There have also been the activities of the Lega Nord (Northern League), a separatist organization, to contend with since 1991, together with organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, and illegal immigration from southeastern Europe and North Africa-all of which have hampered growth. However, Italy has a diverse industrial economy. It is the largest producer of wine in the world and has more than enough to interest tourists. It is a large producer of olive oil, other high-end produce, and motor vehicles. The European Countries Today series provides information on 15 of the most important countries in Europe. Each book in the series describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. There is also a separate title, European Union Facts & Figures, which provides statistical and factual information about the European Union. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the book. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.
