Origins of the Mafia: Meaning, Location & Sicily

Introduction

• The Mafia is a network of organized-crime groups based in Italy and America.
• Evolved over centuries in Sicily, an island that was historically under foreign rule.
• Sicilian groups formed for self-protection and justice, originally not criminal.
• The term "mafioso" originally referred to someone suspicious of central authority.

The Mafia's Sicilian Roots

• Sicily has been ruled by many foreign invaders historically, creating a hostile environment.
• Sicilians formed clans or families to protect against foreign and local threats.
• By the 19th century, these groups became mafie, extorting protection money from landowners.
• The term "Mafia" possibly originates from Sicilian-Arabic, meaning protector against the powerful.
• Popularized in the 1860s by a play depicting a Sicilian prison's inmate hierarchy.

Other Major Criminal Networks in Italy

• Camorra of Naples
• Ndrangheta of Calabria
• Sacra Corona Unita of Puglia

The Mafia on the Rise in Italy

• Sicily became a province of unified Italy in 1861.
• The Italian government struggled with chaos and crime in Sicily.
• The Mafia helped government officials eliminate independent criminal bands in the 1870s.
• The Mafias expanded activities and influence in politics and economy with government cooperation.
• Established initiation ceremonies and pledged loyalty through omerta, a code of silence.

The Mafia in the 20th Century and Beyond

Prohibition and the American Mafia

• In 1920, Prohibition led to the rise of organized crime and the American Mafia.
• The American Mafia, known as Cosa Nostra, became a major crime network in the U.S.
• Involved in a variety of illegal activities and infiltration of legitimate industries.

Influence and Crackdowns

• Mussolini's regime in the 1920s cracked down on the Mafia.
• The Sicilian Mafia regrouped and expanded post-WWII, engaging in narcotics trafficking.
• In the U.S., the Mafia thrived during Prohibition and expanded in the 1950s.
• Law enforcement began effective crackdowns with anti-racketeering laws in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Some Mafiosi broke omerta and testified against others, weakening the Mafia.

Current Status

• The Mafia remains active today but is weakened due to historical crackdowns.
• Still involved in various illegal enterprises globally.

Related Topics

• Influence of the Mafia in establishing NYC's gay bar scene.
• The Mafia's role in American history, including during Prohibition.

Note

• The information is based on an article by HISTORY.com editors updated as of February 27, 2025.