LearnAmo Lecture: The Unification of Italy

Introduction

• Focus on history, specifically the unification of Italy.
• Italy is a relatively young country, unified less than 200 years ago.
• Prior to unification, Italy was fragmented and under foreign domination.

Italy Pre-Unification (Circa 1815)

• Major Political Units:
  • Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom: Under Hapsburg Austria.
  • Kingdom of Sardinia: Ruled by King Vittorio Emanuele I.
  • State of the Church: Ruled by the Pope.
  • Kingdom of the Two Sicilies: Ruled by the Bourbon dynasty.
• Minor states: Duchy of Modena, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Duchy of Lucca, etc.

The Risorgimento Movement

• Aimed to unite the Italian peninsula into a single nation.
• Key figures:
  • Giuseppe Mazzini: Founded "Giovine Italia" to promote unity, freedom, and democracy.
• Patriotic societies formed, such as the "Carboneria."

Wars of Independence

• First War of Independence (1848):

  • Anti-Hapsburg uprisings led by Charles-Albert of Savoy.
  • Initial victories followed by defeat; Kingdom passed to Vittorio Emanuele II.

• Second War of Independence (1859):

  • Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, sought support from France (Napoleon III).
  • Success in liberating Lombardy; subsequent annexations included Tuscany, Parma, Modena.

• Spedizione dei Mille (1860):

  • Led by Giuseppe Garibaldi, the expedition started from Sicily and moved north, contributing to unification.
  • Key meeting at Teano between Garibaldi and Vittorio Emanuele II.

• Italy was officially declared unified in 1861, with Turin as its capital.

Remaining Unification Efforts

• Third War of Independence (1866):
  • Veneto region freed.
• In 1870, Rome was captured, ending Papal rule.
  • Rome became the capital of Italy in 1871.

Conclusion

• Full unification achieved by 1871.
• Encouragement to explore further with related resources on LearnAmo.
• Humorous and engaging presentation style.