the richest history of Italy is almost impossible to fit into one book volume. But this task was solved by the outstanding Italian historian J. Procacci (1926-2008), who managed in one book to trace the formation and development of the Italian people and state from the turn of the 11th century (from the 1000th year) to the end of the 20th century. The book is dedicated to the enormous contribution that Italy has made to the education and development of European society of the New Age throughout its difficult centuries-old history. The author's focus is also on the problem of continuity in Italian history.