This country spans over 301,230 square miles of land and is inhabited by over 57 million people. ... This beautiful country is characterized predominately by two mountain ranges: the Alps and the Apennines. ... Italy is a highly educated country with a 98% literacy rate. ... The country's most important mineral resource is the proven natural gas reserves which are located mainly in the Po Valley and offshore Adriatic. ... Italy's closest trade ties are with the other countries of the European Union, with whom it conducts about 55% of its total trade. ...

• Word Count: 5889
• Approx Pages: 24
• Grade Level: High School

The Italian Renaissance was influenced by many cross-cultural influences resulting from political conflicts and alliances between Italian city-states and from other influencing countries such as Spain and France. ... Fashion was influenced cross culturally within the 16th century as Italy was overrun by Spanish, French, and Austrian influence. ... Styles originated within each country and spread from one to the other through communication, especially through reading books that featured new styles of dress. ... Fashion continued to be influences cross culturally from the East through gifting ...

• Word Count: 4939
• Approx Pages: 20
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Introduced by Alphaeus Babcock in 1830, cross stringing allowed the strings to fan out over a larger section of the soundboard. ... The cross stringing - a way to achieve greater richness of tone by passing more strings over the center of the soundboard- was invented by Alphaeus Babcock in 1830, but was not used in the grand piano until the second half of the nineteenth century (Grover). ... There have been many piano companies in our country through the years. ...

• Word Count: 3032
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School