The Italian Risorgimento (Seminar Studies In History)

by Martin Clark (Author), Martin Clark (Author)

• New

  Illustrated
  2009

  $41.37

  The Unification of Italy in the nineteenth century was the unlikely result of a lengthy and complex process of Italian 'revival' ('Risorgimento'). Few Italians supported Unification and the new rulers of Italy were unable to resolve their disputes with the Catholic Church, the local power-holders in the South and the peasantry. In this fascinating account, Martin Clark examines these problems and considers:

  * The economic, social and religious contexts of Unification, as well as the diplomatic and military aspects

  * The roles of Cavour and Garibaldi and also the wider European influences, particularly those of Britain and France

  * The recent historiographical shift away from uncritical celebration of the achievement of Italian unity.

  Did 'Italian Unification' mean anything more than traditional Piedmontese expansionism? Was it simply an aspect of European 'secularisation'? Did it involve 'state-building', or just repression? In exploring these questions and more, Martin Clark offers the ideal introductory account for anyone wishing to understand how modern Italy was born.

  This new edition has been revised in the light of recent research and now has a greater emphasis on the 'losers' of the conflict, the impact of Unification on the South, and the complexity of the political realities of the times. It has also been updated with useful additional material such as a Who's Who and a plate section to go alongside its carefully chosen selection of original documents.

• Used

  Paperback
  1998

  $3.28

  SEMINAR STUDIES IN HISTORY General Editors: Clive Emsley & Gordon Martel Seminar Studies in History...provide a means of bridging the gap between specialist articles and monographs and textbooks. They are written by acknowledged experts on the subject who are not only familiar with current thinking but have often contributed to it. Their format, well-tried and effective, combines information, analysis and assessment effectively. The selections of documents, included from the outset of the series when document work was hardly in vogue in schools, not merely illustrates points made in the text but provides an effective medium for discussion on the issues raised. The further reading guide has stimulated countless students to take their interests further. The structure of the series may not have changed through time but the format has, with attractive four-colour covers and larger pages...Seminar Studies are still, despite all the opposition, a market leader. Teaching History This new Seminar Study will be welcomed by anyone studying the complexities of the Italian Risorgimento for the first time. As with all the books in the series, the aim is to provide students, unfamiliar with the subject, with an up-to-date account of what happened and why, in as brief a span as possible. The book opens with a general discussion of the Risorgimento and how the events leading to Italian unification in 1861 have been interpreted by historians. Dr Clark then takes the reader through the events of the first half of the nineteenth century in a series of concise chapters. Full attention is given to the social, economic and religious context, to regional diversities, as well as to the rise of Cavour, foreign diplomacy and the military exploits of Garibaldi. Throughout, the broader European context is emphasised and the subject is related to today s issues. The author argues that, despite appearances, the Risorgimento was not a national insurrection and that any national sentiment was limited to a small, educated urban minority. Illustrating the major themes in the book is a fascinating selection of original documents, translated into English specially for this volume. Included amongst them is a description of Garibaldi by a contemporary follower; and a cheque, sent to Garibaldi by a group of Scottish Friends of Italy , and signed by Garibaldi himself. As additional tools the author has provided a chronology of the main events, a glossary of terms, and two maps. Concise, accessible, and enormously readable - the book is an important addition to the series.