What is the meaning or purpose of a mafia?

Answer 1

Answer

The Mafia, also referred to in Italian as Cosa Nostra (lit. Our Thing or 'Our Affair'), is the name for a secret criminal organization which evolved in mid-19th century Sicily. An offshoot of it emerged on the East Coast of the United States during the late 19th century with the waves of Italian Immigration to that country.

Begainning in the middle ages as a society that avenged wrongs against Sicilian peasants by means of terror and reprisals. In 19th-century Sicily they were employed by absentee landlords to manage their estates gaining legitimacy and thereby gaining contacts and power which they used. As it became more powerful - and influential - they virtually took over or controlled these estates. Via this 'protection' they offered from criminals and corruption and by controlling such they organized these criminal groups and by buying off political figures it evolved into an umbrella organization. Calling itself the mafia they gained control of such crime as gambling, loansharking, drug traffic, prostitution.

Answer 2

There isn't a 100% certain answer to this - some believe that MAFIA is an acronym for a phrase in Italian which, when translated to English, means something like, "Death to the French is the cry of Italy".

Answer 3

It is organized crime done so to have the most possible negative effect.