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The Vatican City History in the Making

Sited on the banks of the Tiber River, on a hill sits the Vatican City. It is a place that has
one of the richest histories in the world and is one of the most in uential. The religious
history that surrounds the Vatican City crosses centuries and is now the embodiment of
many of the most important parts of the cultural history of Rome.
The Vatican City is home to the Roman Catholic Church headquarters. There you will nd
the central government for the Church, the Bishop of Rome, otherwise known as the Pope
and the College of Cardinals.
Every year millions upon millions of people travel to the Vatican City, primarily to see the
Pope but also to worship in St Peters basilica and to view the wonders that are stored in
the Vatican Museums.
The Beginning of the Vatican City

Technically speaking, the Vatican City is a country, an independent city-state and is the
smallest in the whole world. The Vatican Citys political body is governed by the Pope but,
and not everyone knows this, it is many, many years younger than the Church.
As a political body, the Vatican City has been classed as a Sovereign State since 1929,
when a treaty was signed between the Kingdom of Italy and the Catholic Church. That
treaty was the end result of more than 3 years of negotiations on how certain relations
should be handled between them, namely political, nancial and religious.
Although the negotiations took 3 years, the dispute actually began back in 1870 and
neither the Pope nor his cabinet would agree to leave the Vatican City until the dispute
was resolved. That happened in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty.
This was the de ning point for the Vatican as it was this treaty that determined the City as
a completely new entity. It was this treaty that split the Vatican City from the rest of the
Papal States that were, in essence, most of the Kingdom of Italy from 765 through to 1870.
Much of the territory was brought into The Kingdom of Italy in 1860 with Rome and Lazio
not capitulating until 1870.
The roots of the Vatican City go back much further though. Indeed, we can trace them
back as far as the 1st Centruy AD when the Catholic Church was rst established. Between
the 9th and 10th Centuries right on through to the Renaissance period, the Catholic Church
was at the top of its power, politically speaking. The Popes gradually took on more and
more governing power eventually heading up all of the regions that surrounded Rome.
The Papal States were responsible of the government of Central Italy until the uni cation
of Italy, almost a thousand years of rule. For a great deal of this time, following their return
to the City in 1377 after an exile to France that lasted 58 years, the reigning Popes would
reside in one of a number of palaces in Rome. When the time cane for Italy to unify the

popes refused to recognize that the Italian King had a right to rule and they refused to
leave the Vatican. This ended in 1929.
Much of what people see in the Vatican City, the paintings, sculpture and architecture, was
created during those Golden years. Now revered artists, people such as Raphael, Sandro
Botticelli and Michelangelo made the journey to the Vatican City to pronounce their faith
and their dedication to the Catholic Church. This faith can be seen in the Sistine Chapel
and St Peters basilica.
The Vatican City Now
Today, the Vatican City remains a religious and historical landmark, as important now as it
was then. It receives millions of visitors from all around the world, visitors who come to see
the beauty of the City, to take in its history and the culture and to express their belief in the
Catholic Church.
The in uence and the power of the Vatican City were not left in the past though. It is the
center, the heart of the Catholic Church and, as such, because Catholicism is still one of
the single largest religions in the entire world, it remains as a highly in uential and visible
presence in the world today.
In between the priceless art houses in the Museums, the beautiful architecture that is St
Peters Basilica and the religious signi cance of the Pope, the Vatican City has become one
of the most popular destinations in the world for travelers. It is the embodiment of some of
the more signi cant parts of both Western and Italian history, opening a window onto the
past, a past that lives on today.

FEBRUARY 25, 2014 BY HISTORY COOPERATIVE

WRITTEN BY HISTORY COOPERATIVE

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REPLY

LEVIAN767
March 18, 2014 at 12:35 am

I cant believe the Italians just gave it to them! I guess it shows the power
of religion

REPLY

JC
December 12, 2014 at 12:36 am

Religion has played a big role in shaping history through out the
centuries.

REPLY

VALERIE
February 18, 2015 at 12:36 am

I didnt even know catholicism was a full religion on its own. How
astounding the knowledge is. If only I can have a miniscule time in the
archives of the Vatican. Dream come true.

BLAIRE TWINOMUGISHA

REPLY

March 11, 2015 at 12:37 am

Its a blessed state. Its not really acommon luck for any state to be under
the popes government!

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