A History of Italy 1700-1860: The Social Constraints of Political Change

Description

First Published in 1979, A History of Italy 1700-1860 provides a comprehensive overview of Italy’s political history from 1700-1860. Divided in five parts it deals with themes like the re-emergence of Italy; Italy as the ‘pawn’ of European diplomacy; social physiognomy of the Italian states; problems of the government; enlightenment and despotism (1760-90); the offensive against the Church; revolution and moderation (1789-1814); revolution and the break with the past; rationalization and social conservatism; the search for independence (1815-47); legitimacy and conspiracy; alternative paths towards a new Italy; and the cost of independence (1848-61). It fills a major gap and presents a thoughtful and well-integrated political narrative of this complex period in Italy’s development. This book is an essential read for students and scholars of Italian history and European history. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Original Title Original Copyright Contents Preface Introduction: The land and the people PART 1 THE RE-EMERGENCE OF ITALY 1700-60 1 Italy, the ‘pawn’ of European diplomacy The search for a new equilibrium The Italian states Peace and political impotence 2 The social physiognomy of the Italian states The countryside and landed power Systems of tenure and peasant pauperism The cities: economic activities and social structure 3 The problems of government Administrative confusion and financial crisis Autocracy and reform: Piedmont The early reforms: ecclesiastical privilege, administration, finances 4 The ‘new’ intellectuals The origins of the new culture Italy and Europe: reason and reform The Enlightenment vision of the social bases of reform Production and public happiness PART 2 REFORM AND AUTHORITY: ENLIGHTENMENT AND DESPOTISM 1760-90 5 The years of collaboration: 1765-75 Naples: the traditional reformism of Tanucci Lombardy: Viennese administrators and Milanese 'philosophers’ Tuscany: the physiocratic victory Modena and Parma: the limits of reformism Piedmont, Venice, Genoa: the absence of reformism 6 The offensive against the Church Rome: hopes of ecclesiastical reform Princes and churchmen: the subordination of Church to State 7 The crisis of collaboration: 1775-90 Princely domination and intellectual withdrawal Joseph II: the autocratic reformer Leopold of Tuscany: physiocracy and Jansenism 8 Belated collaboration: 1780-94 The Two Sicilies: Genovesi’s pupils and the lack of effective leadership The Papal States: the impotence of reformism Modena: Ricci, the isolated reformer The consequences of Enlightened reformism PART 3 REVOLUTION AND MODERATION 1789-1814 9 Revolution and the break with the past: 1789-99 France and Europe Italy and the revolution The ‘liberation’ of Italy The Jacobins The Italian republics The two Italies 10 Rationalization and social conservatism: 1800-14 Napoleon and Italy The Italian Republic The Grand Empire The Kingdom of Naples The revolt against Napoleon PART 4 THE SEARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE 1815-47 11 Legitimacy and conspiracy: 1815-31 Restoration in Europe Restoration in Italy Opposition to Restoration Revolution and reaction Disintegration of the Restoration 12 The society of Restoration Italy The countryside The cities 13 Alternative paths towards a new Italy: 1831-48 Political and economic change in Europe Mazzini and the democratic initiative Political liberalism and economic progress Cattaneo: the idealization of the Lombard middle class Gioberti: the neo-guelph illusion The years of moderate hopes PART 5 THE COST OF INDEPENDENCE 1848-61 14 The contradictions of revolution: 1848-9 Le printemps des peuples The high tide of revolution in Italy The ebb of revolution Republican Italy 15 The compromises of diplomacy: 1850-61 The breakdown of the European concert The crisis of the political democrats The hegemony of the political liberals The triumph of political moderatism The final drive on democratic unitarianism 16 Epilogue Glossary Bibliography Index