Few people understand the significance of this map Why was Italy so divided so late? By then, Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, Hungary, Austria were all quite united. Why not Italy? Part of the reason is right there in the map: the Papal States 🧵

The Pope always feared anybody getting too strong in Italy, because that would mean the Papal States would be threatened. Indeed, that’s what ended up happening. Soon after Italy united, the Papal States shrunk to become the tiniest country in the world, the Vatican.

They especially feared that the north and south would unite. That’s why the Pope was always very happy that southern Italy belonged to other Catholic powers. As for the north, they needed it divided, and they did everything they could to ensure it.

They already knew this back then:

The Pope supported some princes against others, excommunicated leaders that became too strong, and even invited foreign powers to invade Italy if anybody came close to unifying it

This is also why Germany remained divided until 1870: the Holy Roman Emperor was the biggest threat to the pope, who did everything he could to undermine the HRE. One emperor was excommunicated 5 times!

Many more details here, along with more reasons why Germany and Italy remained divided for so long