How Did the French Revolution and Napoleonic Era Lead to the Unification of Germany and Italy in the 19th Century?
The fall of the Roman Empire resulted in the creation of smaller independent city-states in Italy and elsewhere, followed by the rise of nation states. Napoleon III united much of Europe under his rule. As that broke down, other European powers, especially Austria, the Holy Roman Empire, France and Prussia strove for control of the Empire While the larger nations fought against each other for control; internal groups in Italy and Germany other groups worked for an independent, united country with a constitution inspired by the French Revolutionary model.
In Italy the Carbonari, or coal-burners, were an early 19 ...