According to the us census bureau, they are the nation's fifth largest ethnic group. Italian american's are mainly middle class republicans living in industrial cities primarily in northeastern states. I chose to study this group because my mother's side of the family is one hundred percent italian. I have grown up with certain italian customs and traditions, so it was interesting for me to research italian american families more in depth. They were met with hatred and discrimination when first arriving to america mainly because their customs and their strong catholic religious faith was feared. Physical characteristics, last names, language: italian americans can be recognized by their physical characteristics as well as their last names. Physical characteristics usually consist of dark hair, dark features, and tan skin.

The majority of italians are shorter than average and have more body hair than average. Italian last names always end in a vowel such as fiorda, trizzino, and torricelli. The majority of italian americans speak english and have a sense of the italian language. There are some italian american families who still speak italian in their homes in order to maintain their cultural roots. Italians and italian americans are also recognized for using hand gestures while speaking to emphasize their words. In research on interpersonal distance, body orientation, and touch in correlation with culture, it was found that italians represent contact cultures.

Italian dyads used touch during their interactions more than did the english, french, and dutch dyads remland, jones, brinkman, 1995. I thought everyone in the world had at least seven relatives named tony, louie and joe. I would love to live in a country where no one is subject to life without health benefits, stabilizing laws that make it almost impossible to lose a job or a home, and an education that embodies listening and lifelong learning. It has faced countless hardships, from the black death in 1384 to extreme fascism in the mid 1900s, and has emerged with unparalleled advances in art, literature, fashion, music, theater, and cuisine. As an italian citizen, i would take advantage of the endless opportunities to celebrate this rich past. I would visit the coliseum in rome, ride a gondola in venice, admire michelangelo rsquo s sistine chapel, attend operas, and enjoy meals of ldquo the best food the world has to offer. Rdquo i would love nothing more than to walk the same streets, speak the same language, and fall asleep under the same stars as men like fibonacci, galileo, verdi, da vinci, and my great grandfather.

I am in fervent awe of the country where simplicity joins sophistication and happiness is always a kiss on each cheek away. Our writers can help get your essay back on track, take a look at our services to learn more about how we can help. Essay writing service essay marking service place an order to understand any culture, it is first important to get an understanding of the history of the location. Archaeology is one of four subplots of anthropology, and is the excavation, recovery, and analysis of remains of past human behavior. Archaeologists look for artifacts such as tools, ceramics, textiles to give them an idea of and show evidence for past human behavior.

Italy, especially northern italy and around rome, is rich in archaeological findings. Currently there about 56 active sites around italy, which include sites in pompeii and rome. Rome may be the most well known area, because it is still populated today, but the ruins of pompeii are full of findings of a civilization over 20 years old. Pompeii located near the present day naples was completely buried by a volcanic eruption that basically set all signs of life in stone for years ahead.

The earliest signs of life show that this city was destroyed in 79 ad, which gives archaeologists insight to a city that was popular at the same time as the roman empire was at its peak. This site was left virtually untouched until about 1748 when one man found the site and would dig at random searching for treasure only for his own personal gain. Not until 1861 was the proper approach taken, and this included an extensive and systematic excavation led by an italian appointed representative who was responsible for making plaster casts of the victims. Many objects are still being excavated to this day these objects include paints found still in the pottery , tiles, paintings, and floorings. The most interesting is the large amount of brothels found in the city goeurope.about.com.

Photographer corrine gill captured some of the erotic images found, and below is one of her more famous pieces. Culture, in its simplest form, is a set of beliefs, ideas, behaviors that are shared and learned. One really distinct difference between foreign and italian culture is the way italians will greet each other. The most common way to greet someone and see them off is with a light kiss on each cheek. This practice will usually seem strange to a foreigner and italians expect this and most italians will usually stick to the typical handshake to make the outsider feel more comfortable.