The Multicultural Kingdom of Sicily
A Medieval Cosmopolitan
Behind the glory of kings, or the vanity of empires, multiculturalism provided the backbone for many great civilizations to flourish. Glorious states such as the Achaemenid Persians, or Norman Sicilians were centres of innovation and art due to their ability to blend the different cultures that inhabited them. The latter state is a textbook example of the advantages, yet vulnerabilities of multicultural societies. The structure of Medieval Sicily is a shining star in the history of the Mediterranean, as in comparison with the other impoverished states of Medieval Western Europe, Sicily used its numerous cultures to become rich and adorned in literature and learning. Furthermore, in the modern world of increasing diversity, the rise and fall of Sicily provide a shockingly relevant example of a story of multiculturalism despite its Medieval setting.
Rise
The Normans came in with a bang. In the messy world of Italy in the early 11th century, the region was divided between the Pope in the North, the Byzantines down in the boot, the Lombards in the centre, and finally, a declining Arab state in Sicily. Eventually serving as mercenaries, the Normans from France eventually conquered the different entities inhabiting Southern Italy. Under the Hauteville Dynasty, Sicily and North Africa were added…
