Final answer:
Nationalism united people in Germany and Italy by creating a sense of shared identity and pride. It also divided them through debates over leadership and differing regional identities and priorities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nationalism played a significant role in both the unification of Germany and Italy. It united people by instilling a sense of shared identity, heritage, and pride. In Germany, nationalism was based on ethnic lines, requiring individuals to speak German, have a German name, and have a German heritage. This created a strong sense of belonging and contributed to the goal of uniting German-speaking regions under one flag and country. In Italy, nationalism was fueled by a desire to revive the ancient Roman Empire and create a political unity. However, despite the unifying aspects, nationalism also divided people in both Germany and Italy.
In Germany, questions of who should lead the German nation and what constituted being German created divisions. For example, some debated whether the Prussians or the Austrians were more authentically German. Additionally, there were Germans living in places like Bohemia and Poland, who had their own growing senses of national identity. These complexities complicated the goal of unification and led to difficulties in overcoming regional differences.
In Italy, nationalism induced divisions as well. While there was a strong desire for political unity, various regions held different priorities and had their own historico-cultural identities. For example, regions like Sicily favored more autonomy and had their own distinct culture and history. This created challenges in finding common ground and reconciling these differences, ultimately leading to tensions and conflicts within Italy.