Project: Journey Through Unification: Italy and Germany in the 19th Century

Introduction

The Italian and German Unifications, both of which occurred in the second half of the 19th century, were events of great importance for the geopolitical configuration of Europe and the world, with direct implications for the tensions that culminated in both World Wars. Understanding these historical processes is crucial for building a critical view of current reality.

In the Italian Unification, which took place between 1815 and 1871, small kingdoms, duchies, and city-states such as Florence, Venice, and Naples were brought together under a single nation, Italy. The process was marked by revolutionary movements, wars, and political strategies.

The process of German Unification, which occurred between 1864 and 1871, was led by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Using a policy known as "blood and iron," Bismarck manipulated wars and political agreements to unite the various German kingdoms, principalities, and duchies under the power of Prussia, creating Germany.

Contextualization

Understanding the Italian and German Unifications allows us to identify the formation of nation-states, the rise of nationalism, and the construction of European national identities. These phenomena had a great impact on politics, economics, and society around the world, shaping the course of contemporary history.

The Italian and German Unifications are also intrinsically linked to the rise of European Imperialism and colonialism, which resulted in the political and economic exploitation and domination of regions around the world. These historical trends are still evident in many aspects of global geopolitics and economics today.

To deepen the studies on the subject, it is recommended to consult the following sources:

• Book "The Age of Extremes: The Short Twentieth Century, 1914-1991," by historian Eric Hobsbawm.
• Book "Nations and Nationalism since 1780: Programme, Myth, Reality," by Eric Hobsbawm.
• Dossier "Italian and German Unification" from the História Viva magazine.
• Documentaries available on the Netflix streaming platform, such as "Bismarck" and "Garibaldi, Hero of Two Worlds."

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Journey Through Unification: Italy and Germany in the 19th Century"

Project Objective

The main objective of the project is to provide students with an interactive and reflective experience about the phenomena of the Italian and German Unifications, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and social aspects.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 and must create a play or podcast where they must characterize the main events, personalities, conflicts, and processes that marked the Italian and German Unifications.

Each group will be responsible for developing the script, dialogues, and scenes, characterizing the historical figures and their context of action. Students should avoid anachronisms as much as possible and take into account the historical sources and suggested bibliography.

Necessary Materials

• Books and digital resources to carry out research
• Recording equipment (for podcasts)
• Materials for scenery and costumes (for plays)

Detailed Step by Step for Carrying Out the Activity

1. The students are divided into groups and receive the project and the recommended bibliography.
2. As a team, they begin research on the Italian or German Unification, according to the division made in the classroom.
3. The groups should write down relevant aspects and create a script for the play or podcast, highlighting the historical figures, events, and contexts.
4. After the script is built, the students rehearse, prepare the scenery (if applicable), and perform the play or record the podcast.
5. After the presentation or recording, the group writes a detailed report on the process of creating and executing the work, including the steps of building the script, research on the historical context, the execution of the project, and the evaluation of the experience.

Project Deliverables

The groups will present their plays or podcasts to the class and submit the created scripts, as well as the detailed report that should address:

1. Introduction: It should contextualize the topic, its relevance, and application in the real world, as well as the objective of this project.
2. Development: The theory behind the central theme(s) of the project should be made explicit, the activity explained in detail, the methodology used indicated, and finally the results obtained presented and discussed.
3. Conclusion: The student should conclude the work by returning to their main points, making explicit the lessons learned and the conclusions drawn about the project.
4. Bibliography: Indicate the sources on which they based themselves to work on the project, such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

The objective of this final deliverable is to provide students with an opportunity for reflection and analysis on the work carried out, its challenges, lessons learned, and achievements. In this report, each activity, from the research and elaboration of the script to the execution of the project, must be described and analyzed, providing a complete and detailed record of the learning process experienced by the group.