🇮🇹ap italian review
4.4 Major Technological Advances
Verified for the 2025 AP Italian exam•Last Updated on June 18, 2024
Major Technological Advancements
- Automobile 🚗 🚙- One of the largest industries in Italy - over 2000 firms, 250,000 employed, 8.5% of Italy's GDP- Dominated by the Fiat Group (90% of vehicles)- (+++) - convenient, more privacy, spurs other industries, freedom of open road- (- - -) - expensive, air + noise pollution, traffic, increase in fossil fuels consumed (⬆️ global warming)
- Airplane 🛫 🛬- Contributes to the tourism industry, as people fly by plane to Italy and within Italy, from region to region- (+++) - easy, high speed, quick service, no natural deterrents- (- - -) - expensive, unreliable, airports take up land space
- Television 📺 📺- 2 Main Networks: state-owned RAI and commercial Mediaset- TV industry is considered to be overly politicized, and the majority of people find online sources more reliable than television news- Similarly to the USA, there are the typical dvd recordings, broadcasts, live performances, classic channels, and streaming networks- (+++) - entertainment source, career opportunities, medium of information, facilitates unity and creativity- (- - -) - too much vulgarity/violence, linked to some health hazards, affects social interactions
- Vaccinations 💉 💊- The Italian government has made 10 vaccines mandatory for children if they wish to enroll in state-owned schools- The consensus was that vaccines are important, but the debate is over whether they should be compulsory — the government wants to be proactive, which is supported by Italian scientific societies- (+++) - can save children's lives, protect the majority, preserve time + money, has eradicated entire diseases, economic benefits- (- - -) - sometimes dangerous effects, not gov choice (goes against people's rights)
- High-speed Trains- Trenitalia Frecciarossa- First introduced in 2007 and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h- It connects major cities such as Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice.
Italian Inventions
Italians have always been closely connected with other countries, allowing them to take advantage and reap the benefits of major, life-changing inventions, but at the same time, many extraordinary discoveries were made by Italians themselves.
The following is a list of some of the more famous inventions/innovations/discoveries known to be Italian:
- Jeans👖 newspapers 🗞️ Jacuzzis 🛀🏽, telephone ☎️, radio 📻, battery🔋 piano 🎹 banks 🏦, espresso machine ☕
Key Terms to Review (4)
Fiat Group: The Fiat Group is an Italian multinational corporation that specializes in automotive manufacturing and is known for producing a wide range of vehicles, from compact cars to luxury models. It has played a significant role in advancing automotive technology, embracing innovations like fuel-efficient engines and electric vehicles while also expanding its global presence through strategic mergers and acquisitions.
Made in Italy: Made in Italy is a label that signifies products manufactured in Italy, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation. This term embodies the ideals of quality, style, and tradition that are synonymous with Italian goods, connecting to advancements in technology, standards of beauty, and the influence of gender roles on the production of Italian products.
Risorgimento: Risorgimento refers to the 19th-century movement for Italian unification, which aimed to consolidate various independent states and territories into a single nation. This period marked a significant shift in Italy's political landscape, influencing ideals of nationhood, cultural identity, and social progress, while also being shaped by major technological advances that fostered communication and transportation across the fragmented regions of Italy.
Trenitalia Frecciarossa: Trenitalia Frecciarossa is Italy's high-speed train service operated by Trenitalia, connecting major cities across the country with exceptional speed and comfort. This service represents a significant advancement in railway technology and infrastructure, enhancing both domestic travel and the overall efficiency of transportation in Italy.