By the end of the century in 1900, Italy had successfully transitioned from an isolated entity into a notable power on the global stage, though it remained a nation still grappling with its internal divisions. Italy in the Nineteenth Century: 1796-1900 - Google Books
The story begins with the French Revolution and Napoleon's invasion of Italy in 1796. This period introduced modern administration and legal codes (the Napoleonic Code), sowing the first seeds of national consciousness and upsetting the traditional ancien régime . Italy in the Nineteenth Century 1796-1900 (Shor...
: Despite social backwardness in some areas, Italy modernized its education and culture to align with broader European patterns. By the end of the century in 1900,
Real political momentum shifted to the Kingdom of Sardinia (Piedmont), led by Victor Emmanuel II and the pragmatic statesman Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour . Through strategic alliances and the military exploits of Giuseppe Garibaldi in the South, the Kingdom of Italy was finally proclaimed on March 17, 1861. : Despite social backwardness in some areas, Italy
Unification was completed in 1870 with the annexation of Rome from the Papal States. However, the new nation faced deep challenges: