unification of italy
UNIFICATION OF ITALY
The unification of Italy in the 19th century was one of the most significant events in the history of the peninsula and of Europe as well. Not only did it alter the European balance of power but it also paved the way for the future. Unification was achieved through the interplay of complex factors: ideology, war, diplomacy, personalities and European politics.
There were a number of factors that created obstacles in the unification of Italy. The mountainous nature of central Italy created two distinct civilisations on either side. While North Italy was fertile, prosperous & cosmopolitan; Southern Italy was arid, with a tremendous polarisation between absentee landlords and the poverty stricken peasantry, low rate of illiteracy and a culture dominated by religion. Further Italy displayed a unique range of constitutions. It was characterised by local customs and traditions, which prevented the growth of a national culture. The numerous dialects of Italy prevented language from being a unifying factor. Thus, Derek Biels has argued that in the late 18th century and beginning of 19th century the patriotism of the people were focussed on their cities or villages and this is what came to be known as ‘campanilismo’.
Moreover, the foreign powers also had a vested interest in keeping this region divided. This was due to the fact that different regions of Italy were under the control of different leaders. For instance, south Italy was under the Spanish king; North and Lombardy under Austria and the Pope had authority over Rome. Moreover, Italy herself was fragmented into smaller principalities under different rulers and princes, who had no concept of nationality as they were interested in extending their influence outside of Italy as well. The pope’s influence over all Italian states and temporal control over Rome posed yet another barrier to Italian unification. Finally, these structural barriers to unification were accompanied by disagreement
The unification of Italy in the 19th century was one of the most significant events in the history of the peninsula and of Europe as well. Not only did it alter the European balance of power but it also paved the way for the future. Unification was achieved through the interplay of complex factors: ideology, war, diplomacy, personalities and European politics.
There were a number of factors that created obstacles in the unification of Italy. The mountainous nature of central Italy created two distinct civilisations on either side. While North Italy was fertile, prosperous & cosmopolitan; Southern Italy was arid, with a tremendous polarisation between absentee landlords and the poverty stricken peasantry, low rate of illiteracy and a culture dominated by religion. Further Italy displayed a unique range of constitutions. It was characterised by local customs and traditions, which prevented the growth of a national culture. The numerous dialects of Italy prevented language from being a unifying factor. Thus, Derek Biels has argued that in the late 18th century and beginning of 19th century the patriotism of the people were focussed on their cities or villages and this is what came to be known as ‘campanilismo’.
Moreover, the foreign powers also had a vested interest in keeping this region divided. This was due to the fact that different regions of Italy were under the control of different leaders. For instance, south Italy was under the Spanish king; North and Lombardy under Austria and the Pope had authority over Rome. Moreover, Italy herself was fragmented into smaller principalities under different rulers and princes, who had no concept of nationality as they were interested in extending their influence outside of Italy as well. The pope’s influence over all Italian states and temporal control over Rome posed yet another barrier to Italian unification. Finally, these structural barriers to unification were accompanied by disagreement