Crawfords A History of Southern Italy: The Rulers of the South is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of southern Italy and Sicily. Its over 300 full-length chapters start with the southern Italy of antiquity, the founding of Greek colonies such as Syracuse, and the Gothic, Norman, Saracen, and Byzantine invaders. A discussion of the Mafias history is included. All the while, illustrations and photographs are interspersed throughout each chapter. Illustrations and a Table of Contents is also included for easier navigation.