Part 6/9:
Despite the heights reached during the Norman King Roger II's reign, the subsequent transfer of power to the Hohenstaufen dynasty led to a stark decline. As Sicily shifted its gaze away from the Mediterranean and toward mainland Europe, the homegrown multiculturalism began to erode. Relations between the diverse communities soured, particularly with the expulsion of Muslims from Sicily by 1224.
The crowns of Sicily and Naples changed hands through a series of foreign conquests, first falling to the French and then later becoming subjects of the Spaniards. This transition left Southern Italy and Sicily politically significant yet culturally diminished, as external rulers failed to appreciate or nurture the region’s rich historical tapestry.