ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of the unification of Italy

So, imagine a long time ago in Italy, there were a bunch of different kingdoms and territories. It was a bit like having many puzzle pieces that do not fit together perfectly. These different places had their own rulers and governments and did not work together very well. This made it difficult for people to trade and travel between these places because they had different rules and didn't always get along.

But then, some people in Italy started to think, "Hey, wouldn't it be great if all these puzzle pieces could come together and form one big puzzle? It would make things easier for everyone!" So, they began to work towards a big goal called "unification," which means bringing all these different pieces together to become one country.

The process of unification was not easy and happened over many years, like a really long story with lots of chapters. It all started in the late 18th century when ideas about "nationalism" became popular in Europe. Nationalism is when people feel a strong sense of belonging to their own country and want to create a strong and independent nation.

In the early 19th century, a man named Napoleon Bonaparte came to Italy and brought a lot of change. He defeated the old rulers and created new kingdoms. Although Napoleon was eventually defeated and his reign ended, he left behind a kind of spark that inspired Italians to think about their own independence and unification.

In the following decades, several movements and revolutions took place across Italy. Many people wanted to get rid of the old rulers and unite the different territories. These movements were often led by passionate and dedicated individuals who believed in the idea of a united Italy.

One of the most famous and important leaders during this time was Giuseppe Garibaldi. He was like a superhero! Garibaldi fought in many battles and led a group of soldiers known as the "Red Shirts." They helped in the fight for Italian unification and became heroes to many people.

As time went on, two important men named Camillo di Cavour and Victor Emmanuel II also played significant roles in the unification process. Cavour was a smart politician who worked to gain support from other countries and make alliances. Victor Emmanuel II was the king of Piedmont-Sardinia and later became the first king of a united Italy.

In 1861, finally, all the pieces of the puzzle started to come together. Most of the territories in Italy had joined together to form the Kingdom of Italy with Victor Emmanuel II as their king. But there were still some territories, like the states controlled by the Catholic Church, that remained separate.

It took a bit more time, but eventually, even the remaining pieces came together. In 1870, the capital of Italy moved from Turin to Rome, and the whole country was finally united.

So, in summary, the timeline of the unification of Italy is like a big puzzle that took a long time to solve. Different people, like Garibaldi, Cavour, and Victor Emmanuel II, played important roles in bringing together the various kingdoms and territories. Through revolutions, movements, and lots of hard work, Italy finally became one country in 1870.