Why is the center so important?

Why is having control of the center so important? Also my main opening is the italian game and how does center control affect it?

Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier explained it this way:

6. Control the center.

In many cases, the person who controls the four squares at the center of the board will have the better game. There are simple reasons for this.

First, a piece in the center controls more of the board than one that is somewhere else. As an example, place one knight on a center square and another in one of the corners of the board. The knight in the center can move to eight different squares, while the "cornered" one only has two possible moves!

Second, control of the center provides an avenue for your pieces to travel from one side of the board to the other. To move a piece across the board, you will often have to take it through the center. If your pieces can get to the other side faster than your opponent's pieces, you will often be able to mount a successful attack there before he can bring over enough pieces to defend.

Each player has moved two knights and two pawns. Which side has better control of the center?

Example H

Once again, think carefully: Which side stands better in the center? Why?from:

http://www.chess.com/article/view/ten-tips-to-winning-chess-by-international-grandmaster-arthur-bisguier

Control of the center is important because pieces have more mobility in the center of the board.

You also asked about the Italian game opening and said it was your main opening.