1909

Publication of the Futurist Manifesto, Milan and Paris

1911

Cubists exhibit at Salon des Indépendants, Paris

1914

First World War begins.

1917

Russian Revolution
Giorgio de Chirico and Carlo Carrà make Metaphysical paintings in Ferrara

1920

Venice Biennale includes paintings by Paul Cézanne

1922

Benito Mussolini takes power in Italy.

1932

Mario Sironi designs Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution, Rome

1936

Outbreak of Spanish Civil War. Italian militia fight for Franco.

1937

Pablo Picasso paints Guernica for International Exhibition, Paris

1940

Italy enters Second World War in alliance with Germany

1943

Mussolini is deposed, and Italy joins the allies
Germany occupies central and northern Italy

1945

Armistice in Europe
Roberto Rossellini's Rome Open City signals birth of Neorealist cinema

1946

Italy votes to become a republic.

1947

Lucio Fontana launches First Spatialist Manifesto, Milan

1948

First post-war Venice Biennale shows Peggy Guggenheim's collection, including works by Jackson Pollock

1950

Venice Biennale dominated by Realists

1953

Death of Stalin
Picasso exhibition in Milan and Rome includes Guernica

1954

Homage to Marcel Duchamp opens Galleria Schwarz, Milan

1956

Hungarian uprising crushed by Soviet army
Suez Crisis

1957

The Treaty of Rome establishes European Economic Community
Piero Manzoni makes first Achromes

1958

Italy's 'Economic Miracle', heralding 6 years of growth.

1961

Building of Berlin Wall

1962

Cuban missile crisis
Pop Art emerges in New York

1963

Assassination of John F Kennedy

1964

Robert Rauschenberg wins prize at Venice Biennale