In the 15th century, when modern diplomacy started to develop, the Italian Peninsula was fragmented into rival centres of power. Each one had his own interests to preserve and to encourage, but they shared common roots and habits.
Today the world has dramatically changed: multipolarity, globalization and shifting borders have filled international relations with cultural diversity and richness. As a result, the European-centred etiquette has been reached by a new one based on the observation of each country specificity.
In order to avoid gaffes here you find a useful link to cultural customs all around the world: http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/cultural_etiquette.htm
