News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-01-27
Brief Review of Modern Euro
pean Historically

cally the youngest of European nations,
the Italian kingdom under Victor EN-
manuel III having been established as re-
Gently as 1861 When we turn to the
period previously mentioned as the open
| ing of modern European history we find
Italy containing large number of petty
's0r lnincipaltties, ETC. some of
.uSm Gown as republics. they were
republican only in name.
The immediate effect upon Italy re-
sultiDgfrom the capture OfConstantinople
by the Turks in 1852, was two-fold; one
result was devastation, the other was
beneficial both to Italy and to Europe at
large. First, the capture of the great
city of eastern Europe closed the east
ern Mediterranean to western commerce.
The slipping of Venice was driven from
that sea and the road to India was closed.
This was for time disastrous blow
to Italy. The second result of the cap
ture of Constantinople was to scatter
artists who had made it their home.
These fugitives with their precious man
uscripts and other literary and artistic
treasures that they were able to carry
with them, filed to the nearest refuge,
Italy. Here many of them were befriend-
ed by the wealthy mobiles, established
themselves and brought into Italian life
the learning and the artistic influences
of their former home. Then resulted an
interest in the arts, in philosophy, and in
literature, which profoundly effected the.
life of all Europe.
Had the Turks retained the great adj
vantage which the possession of Constan-
tinople gave them, these new influences
of learning might not have had opportu-
nifty to work quietly upon Europe. The
MOhammedan power suffered, however,
in 1911, tremendous defeat at Lepanto
on the Grecian coast at the hands of Eu-
ropean allies and thereafter western
Europe was safe from Invasion from that
quarter.
Through the seventeenth century Italy
remained a copglomerate of small states,
republics aud princlpah les some of
these were d"miuated hy Austria. A rr
the establishment of the FraEc r tpph-
lie, Austria beng one eft is chief enc
mics, Napoleon invaded Iltt. TIE AUS
TRANS We're driven Gu ana republican
forms Of government established in the
peninsula. With the COLLAPSE OF rhe first
French Republic aud the establishment
of the Empire under Napoleon. copre-
spending changes took place in Italy, ,ud
its progress suffered under foreign ies-
potism until the overthrow of Napoleon.
Then the Italians found that they had
simply changed masters. The Aust ian
Tyranny was restored and such states as
had been independent principalities went
iDtothe hands If tyrranncal rulers. There
were partially successful uprisings, but
both in 1921 and 1881 these were put
down by Austrian armies.
One party in Italy had long desired to
an Independent kingdom with !
a member of the royal house of Savoy |
the throne. In 1913, when
evolution swept through continental
Europe, the reiguing member of that
amiy declared war upon Austria. 1t
vas unsuccessful in it's immediate pur.
pose, but it brought to the throne of Sar-
LIMA King Victor Emmanuel H. When
he Crimean War was fought in 1855,
his king took part as an ally of France
'nd England and by doing so secured
heir support for his own plans. Conse-
Iuently when, in 1859, he went to war
gainst Austria, he had the aid of a
french army.
Because of the withdrawal of this aid
Vt critical moment, the King of Sardin-
a was not able fully to carry out his
'lans. He did, however, succeed in free
ng and bringing into his own kingdom a
arge amount of territory. In 1851, hav-
ng gained further territories, he received
he title of King of Italy.
When Austria and Prussia had their
rief war in 1885, Italy took advantage of
to make Venetia a part of the new
ingdom. Four years later the Franco
RUSSIAN War overthrow imperial gov
in France. The new Republic
7as friendly to the Italian government
nd the latter felt itself in position to
lain Rome as part of its dominion.
Immediately did so and made the an
lent city the capital of the kingdom on
uly 2, 1871. On the death of Victor
Emmanuel ii in 1873, his son, Hum
ert l, succeeded him. The latter was
ssassinated in 190Oand the present king,
'ictor Emmanuel Ill, came to the
lrone.
The Triple Alliance made by the Ger
Ian Empire, Austria and Italy, had
cen in existence up to last August, since
SS2. 1t was the work of Bismarck.
ally and Austria had serious causes for
unity, hut Germany needed all the help
he could get, and the exposed position
Italy made the latter nation apprehen-
We of England and France. Conse-
nently Italy put aside for time her