Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/679

 The Kingdom of Italy and the Ger.man Empire 521 proved much better than the old governments which it replaced. Much of the revenue has been spent on other things than arma- ments. Railroads have been built by the state to open up the country. Manufactures have grown up in the northern part, so that Milan is today one of the great manufacturing cities of Europe. National schools are bringing improvement in education, although the peasants in the mountainous districts are still very ignorant and superstitious. Victor Emmanuel died in 1878. His son Humbert was assas- sinated by an anarchist in 1900. Humbert's son and successor, the present king, Victor Emmanuel III, is regarded as an en- lightened man desirous of ruling within the limits of the con- stitution. The monarchy is in practice, as in form, quite similar to that of England. QUESTIONS I. Review briefly the history of Italy from the break-up of the Roman Empire to 1859. What was the importance of Sardinia in Italy ? Why was Napoleon III ready to intervene in Italian affairs ? What was the result of his intervention.? How was the kingdom of Italy founded, and what Italian territories were not included in the union of 1861 ? II. Why is Germany called the youngest of the European powers? How did the unification of Germany really begin? Why did Prussia play such an important role in Germany? What was the policy of William I and Bismarck? What do you know of the German army? What had the Schleswig-Holstein affair to do with the war of 1866? What was the North German Federation? III. How did France become involved in war with Germany in 1870? What was the course of the war? What were the terms of peace? Why did these prove disastrous not only to Germany but to the world at large? How did the final unification of Germany take place ? IV. When and how was Italy finally unified ? What is the position of the Pope? Why do Italian emigrants go to America in preference to their own colonies ?