In this era, Italy was little more than a geographical concept. When mentioned, it was always prefixed with "North" or "South."
The North and South were vastly different—so much so that they sometimes seemed like different worlds, whether in their institutions, culture, or language.
In contrast to the chaotic North, which had been in turmoil since the time of Justinian, Southern Italy was much more peaceful.
For a long time, most of the southern region had been governed by the Roman Empire. Its population consisted mainly of Greeks, with a portion of Lombards.
Both the Greeks and the Lombards had once been the dominant powers in the region, and even a mere decade ago, their influence was still palpable.
Now, however, the region of Southern Italy had a new master: the Normans, hailing from the distant north.
