Human Heritage: A World History

Chapter 35: Unrest in Europe

Unrest in Europe

Chapter 35 discusses unrest in Europe as country after country experienced revolution and the growth of nationalism.

Section 1 focuses on how Napoleon brought peace and a new government to France, preserving the most important rights the people won in the French Revolution. Emperor by 1804, Napoleon set out to build an empire that would take the place of the Holy Roman Empire. After conquering most of Europe, Napoleon was defeated, forced to abdicate, and exiled from France.

Section 2 discusses how the Congress of Vienna divided Napoleon's empire and brought back divine-right monarchy in many areas. The section also explains why liberals, nationalists- and socialists opposed the Congress System- which led to political revolutions in several European countries.

Section 3 explains how the growth of nationalism in Italy- Germany- and Austria destroyed the balance of power that was established at the Congress of Vienna. While nationalists in Italy and Germany wanted to unify their nations- nationalists in Austria threatened the unity of the Austrian Empire and the possibility of peace in Europe.