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History & Society
Mafia
organized crime
Paul Castellano
Category:
History & Society
- Areas Of Involvement:
- gambling
- prostitution
- organized crime
- heroin
- narcotic
- Related People:
- Richard Kuklinski
- John Gotti
- Lucky Luciano
- Bernardo Provenzano
- Salvatore Maranzano
Mafia, hierarchically structured society of criminals of primarily Italian or Sicilian birth or extraction. The term applies to the traditional criminal organization in Sicily and also to a criminal organization in the United States. Most scholars agree that the Mafia emerged in Sicily in the 19th century during Italy’s unification, but others suggest the organization arose during the late Middle Ages. In the latter interpretation, the Mafia possibly began as a secret organization dedicated to overthrowing the rule of the various foreign conquerors of the island—e.g., Saracens, Normans, and Spaniards. The Mafia owed its origins to and drew its members ...(100 of 916 words)