Impact of Enlightenment on Italy

Italy was favorably impacted by the Enlightenment, specifically in its northern provinces. Although Italy was highly influenced by Austria at the time, this did not stop many native Italians from expanding on enlightened ideas of their own. Some of these intellectuals included Vico, Beccarria, and Verri.

However, Italy was mostly influenced by Austria, rather than forming ideas based upon political unrest or economic hardships in their own country. In fact, Italy continued to exist as fundamentally separate states as it had for three hundred years.

Besides from Galileo's influences in the prior centuries, Beccarria's ideas concerning capital punishment spread as far as Great Britain. Thus, although parts of Italy were intellectually effected, this did not directly effect Italy socially, culturally, economically, and politically until much later.