Title: European History/European Imperialism and Nationalism - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Headings: European History/European Imperialism and Nationalism
European History/European Imperialism and Nationalism
Contents
The Countries of Europe
France
Germany
Wars of Unification
Italy
Russia
Russo-Japanese War 1904–1905
The Revolution of 1905
Stolypin's Reforms
International Relations
Imperialism
Crimean War
Science and Technology
Darwin's Theory of Evolution
New Mental Sciences
Ego
Society and Culture
Impressionist Art
Post Impressionist Art
Christianity and Religion Questioned

Content: However, the unification of Germany was not solely due to nationalism. It is worth noting that, in an era when Europe was increasingly dominated by large empires, many German states were small to the point of insignificance. Most German rulers understood that there was strength in working together. This understanding was to lead to inter-state co-operation across the region, the most notable example being the Zollverein, the customs union that encompassed most of northern Germany by the early 1830s. This variety of factors, both nationalistic and economic, were exploited by the conservative King of Prussia, William I, and his chief minister, Otto von Bismarck. Both understood the value of a unified German state, particularly one which excluded Austrian influence. Wars of Unification
Whilst he had a clear idea that the unification of Germany should be his goal, Bismarck was a shrewd politician and exploited, rather than initiated, events. The complicated dynastic successions within the German confederation proved to be a useful tool to this end. The first such conflict was triggered by the Schleswig-Holstein problem. Schleswig and Holstein were German duchies whose ruler was also the Danish king, Frederick VII.