Barriers to unity up to 1848 (social/ economic) Flashcards
2 reasons why church was a barrier to unity
- Still played important role in maintaining social control in rural areas. Large influence over peasantry
- Before 1815 church considered most important charitable institution. During Napoleonic period, power decreased as monasteries closed down. Land sold off so income reduced (less charity for poor)
Land: What did the apennine mountains do?
Acted as a barrier to transport communications between the east + west of peninsula
Land/ rich and poor: What did the poor depend on for fuel + food, what happened that affected this? What did landowners do to the poor?
Land started to be sold off in 1830s. by 1860s 1/4 million acres been sold. Sold to upper classes, who exploited the land. Demanded high rents, peasantry stuck in cycle of debt.
Land: What promoted unity in Piedmont?
Tradition of peasant land ownership. In 1850s had 800,000 small landholdings
Land: What was the issue with soil quality?
Southern soil inferior to the North, and the South crippled with malaria.
Land/ rich and poor: What kind of landlords did the South have, issue with this?
Abstentee landlords who rented out land to peasants, so many suffered from unemployment
Industrial development/ Rich and poor: What did GDP per head rise to? When?
Only by 0.5% per year 1830-60, in Northern and Central Italy
Industrial development: What made economics locally based instead of National? Issues with this?
Restoration 1815, re-introduced trade tariffs between states, negatively impacting industry
Industrial development: Example of Northern Italy not being industrially integrated.
Venetia and Lombardy were in direct competition w/ neighbouring states
Industrial development: Explain the silk industry in Lombardy
By 1840, silk industry employed 70,000. Affected by depression of 1847, and competition from India and China
Transport: Did South or North lead way of railway? How much track, when?
South. By 1860, only 160km of operating track.
Transport: What was the importance of the construction of the railway network? What state led the way?
Driving force for industrial change. Kingdom of Naples completed 1st line in 1839, helping to stimulate local engineering business
Transport: What was only places connected to Naples, when? How much of villages connected by tracks rather than roads?
Suburban districts of Naples, 1860. 5/6
Urbanisation/ welfare: What pushed people off land? Example of pop. growth in Milan?
Enclosure of land, rural poverty, disease. Limited industrialisation drew them into towns and cities causing urbanisation. 139,000 (1814) to 185,000 (1836)
Urbanisation/ welfare: Why were people drawn to cities?
Welfare, as in cities state run welfare organisations could be found, catering for poor.