ABSTRACT

A prominent theme throughout this volume is the centrality of classical Greece to the formation of the Modern Greek state during the nineteenth century. Many areas of public and cultural life were dominated by ancient models and precedents, which became a ubiquitous point of reference. In Italy the distant ancient model served mostly as a political template for the new state, to which it presented the only direct predecessor. In contrast to Italy, the classical model appears to have been relatively uncontested in Greece, despite the existence of alternative narratives', including conservative attempts to establish Byzantium and the Greek Orthodox tradition as a model for the new nation. Contemporary Italian historians were often more sceptical, probably under the influence of strong local allegiances. The new Italian state nevertheless presented itself as the re-creation of ancient Italy unified under Rome. This point was expressed most unequivocally in the designation of the Papal city of Rome as the new capital.