How the 1555 Roman Ghetto reshaped law, space, and daily life until abolition in 1870 and a new synagogue rose in 1904.
Rome’s Jewish Ghetto in 1555: Law, Flood, and the Making of a Community
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Medieval and Papal Rome
The Rise of the Commune of Rome: A Medieval Republic Against Papal Power
In the 12th century, the Commune of Rome challenged papal authority, reviving the Roman Senate and reshaping medieval governance in the Eternal City.
The Return of the Papacy to Rome: Gregory XI and the End of the Avignon Exile
In 1377, Pope Gregory XI returned the papacy to Rome after decades in Avignon, restoring the city’s religious and political significance.
Pope Gregory the Great: The Leader Who Reshaped Medieval Rome
In the 7th century, Pope Gregory I led Rome through famine, plague, and war, shaping the medieval papacy and spreading Christianity across Europe.
The Coronation of Pepin the Short: The Birth of the Papal States
In 754 CE, Pope Stephen II anointed Pepin the Short in Rome, forging the alliance that led to the creation of the Papal States and reshaped medieval Europe.
The Sack of Rome in 1084: Robert Guiscard and the Norman Invasion
In 1084, Norman forces under Robert Guiscard sacked Rome, rescuing Pope Gregory VII but leaving the city in ruins after clashing with Emperor Henry IV.
The Guelphs and Ghibellines: Rome’s 13th-Century Power Struggle
In the 13th century, Rome was torn between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, factions fighting for control between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire.
The Saracen Raids on Rome: The 9th-Century Threat to the Eternal City
In the 9th century, Saracen raiders attacked Rome, threatening the city’s security and prompting the fortification of the Vatican and the rise of new defenses.
The Commune of Rome: The City’s Medieval Struggle for Independence
In the 12th century, the Commune of Rome emerged as citizens challenged papal rule, seeking self-governance and a return to the city’s republican past.
The Avignon Papacy: When Rome Lost Its Popes
During the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377), the papal court abandoned Rome, leaving the city in decline while power shifted to France.
