The Birth of the Mafia: Crime, Power, and the Making of Modern Sicily

The Mafia conjures images of violence, secrecy, and strict codes of honor—but how did it all begin? Ross King, author of The Shortest History of Italy and favorite guest speaker for Art History Encounters, sheds light on a dark but fascinating chapter in Sicilian history that still shapes the island’s identity today. In 19th-century Palermo and Western Sicily, the rise of the Mafia (Cosa Nostra) was closely tied to the upheavals of Italian Unification. Far from being a relic of the distant past, the Mafia emerged at a pivotal moment in Italian history, exploiting political instability, corrupt officials, and lucrative industries such as lemon and sulfur exports.

King explores the truth behind the myth of “rustic chivalry” and “men of honor,” exploring how organized crime thrived by infiltrating the very institutions meant to uphold justice. He examines how the Mafia gained control—and its name—and the nature of its first business…