For a long time the people of Italy were content under Roman rule, readily converting to Islam and adopting many aspects of Greek culture. However, by the late 16th century they had become disillusioned by the marginalization of Italy and by the long years of war during the middle of the century, and agitators in many cities began to call for independence. When in 1599 one such agitator was publicly executed for treason in the main square of Naples, the unrest rapidly swelled into open revolt, and then a series of full-scale wars which dragged in much of the rest of the Mediterranean region.