Question

One reason Italy and Germany were not major colonial powers in the 16th and 17th centuries was that they

belonged to opposing alliances
rejected the practice of imperialism
had self-sufficient economies
lacked political unity

Answer 1

Option: lacked political unity

Step-by-step explanation:

Italy and German were not united like Britain, France, Spanish, etc., during the 16th and 17th centuries. Italy and Germany divided into several city-states had its ruling king or party, which shown a lack of political unity. A sense of nationally was coming up among the people living in city-states and leaders like Bismark and Giuseppe Mazzini who wanted to unite city-states and built a nation. Italy and Germany formed their empire in the second half of the 19th century. Italy in 1861 became a sovereign state after unification and Germany Empire founded in 1871.