Chronology/Timeline
of the History of Pisa
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The history of Pisa began 180 years before Christ on
the banks of the Arno River, approximately ten miles
inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Known as Pisae, a Roman
colony, the settlement displayed some Ligurian and
Etruscan influence. This timeline shows some of the
major events that shaped the Pisa that we see
today. For a more complete chronology read further
in Tilt by Nicholas Shrady. Pisa
Timeline - Chronology of Events |
|
Date |
Event |
|
700
-180 B.C. |
The region is dominated by
the Ligurians and later the Etruscans.
|
|
180
B.C. |
Pisae becomes a Roman Colony |
|
300 - 500
A.D. |
Barbarian Invasions of Italy |
|
878 |
Saracens conquer Byzantium
to occupy Sicily. Impacts Pisan trade |
|
1003 |
Pisa goes to war against
Lucca |
|
1004 |
Saracens raid Pisa |
|
1011 |
Pisa takes the offensive and
enjoys victories over the Muslim invaders. |
|
1063 |
Pisa raids Saracen held
Palermo |
|
1075 |
Pisa develops Consuetudini
di mare to govern and protect trade |
|
1096 |
Pisa joins Pope Urban II in
the first Crusades |
|
1111 |
Pisa enters into treaty with
Byzantium gaining access to trade freely in the Holy
Land. |
|
1118 |
The cathedral of Pisa is
consecrated by Pope Gelasius II |
|
1136 |
Pisa raids Amalfi. |
|
1153 |
Work is started on the
Baptistery building at the Campo dei Miracoli |
|
1173 |
Construction of the Tower of
Pisa begins. |
|
1178 |
Work on the tower stops with
only three tiers completed |
|
1228 |
Pisa defeats the combined
forces of Florence and Lucca |
|
1272 |
Work resumes on the Tower |
|
1276 |
Pisa defeated by Florence |
|
1278 |
Construction of the Tower
comes to a halt after reaching the 7th tier |
|
1284 |
Genoa defeats Pisa at the
Battle of Meloria. |
|
1298 |
The Tilt of the tower is
first observed and a commission is formed to investigate
the cause and effect a remedy. |
|
1301 |
Andrea Orcagna paints the Camposanto's
noteworthy frescos |
|
1316 |
They tyrant ruler of the
city-state, Ugukccione della Faggiola, is driven from
Pisa by the people |
|
1338 |
The University of Pisa is
established |
|
1370 |
The tower of Pisa is
officially completed |
|
1509 |
Niccolo Machiavelli supports
Florence in raids and attacks on Pisa. Pisa falls and
rule passes over to Florence |
|
1589 |
Galileo Galilei teaches
mathematics at the University of Pisa. Famous
gravity experiments, involving the leaning tower of
Pisa, are conducted |
|
1633 |
Galileo is convicted of
heresy during the inquisitions |
|
1787 |
Alessandro Da Morrona
measures the tilt of the tower approximately 3.8 meters |
|
1818 |
The Pisa Circle
begins as English expatriates such as Percy B. Shelly
and Lord Byron arrive in Italy to escape the social
constraints of the times back home in England. |
|
1838 |
Alessandro della
Gherardesca, an architect commissioned to create a
walkway around the base of the tower, makes a disastrous
miscalculation and designs and performs work that allows
water to flood the base of the tower setting it in
motion after years of stability. |
|
1902 |
The bell tower in Venice's Piazza
S. Marco (St. Mark's Square) collapses generating
fresh concern over the notable instability of the (now
famously) leaning tower of Pisa |
|
1907 -
1922 |
A string of commissions are
formed to evaluate the state of the tower's tilt. No
actions that improve the situation come forth. |
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1934 |
A plan, approved by none
other than the infamous Benito Mussolini, is carried out
that nearly destroys the tower. |
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1943 -
1945 |
WWII. Though Pisa is ravened
by the war, the Campo dei Miracoli is, mostly, spared.
Only one grenade is detonated in the Camposanto -
some frescos and a few other treasures were lost |
|
1964 -
1988 |
More commissions to assess
the state of the tower are formed, but still, no
solutions are forthcoming |
|
1990 |
The Italian government
closes the Tower of Pisa due to concerns for public
safety. |
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1999 |
Soil extraction is
performed. This proves to be the definitive solution to
the Tower of Pisa's stability |
|
2001 |
Pisa celebrates the
restoration of the tower. |
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<< Back - The History of Pisa
| Next
- Field of Miracles -
Campo dei Miracoli >>
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Credit
for information on this tour:
Shrady, N. (2003) Tilt.
Simon & Shuster. NY, NY, USA.
Machiavelli, F., Martin,
S., Townsend, H., Tyrrell, N (1996). Eyewitness
Travel Guides: Italy. DK Publishing. NY, NY, USA.
Sarti, R. (2004). Italy
- A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present.
Facts on File Inc.. NY, NY, USA.
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