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Over the last 15 years, meetings between these powerful religious leaders have become more frequent. Both offer a deep commitment to seeing their churches join under one banner and share their power to preach a common message.

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Recently, another attempt was made to establish common ground in what has been a rocky relationship between two churches with a checkered history. The current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church has made numerous attempts at reaching out to many religions. However, his strongest attempts have been to the Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Pope John Paul II has even gone so far as to apologize for his church's actions against those in the Eastern Orthodox faith-a move that would have been unthinkable two decades ago.

Over the last 15 years, meetings between these powerful religious leaders have become more frequent. Both offer a deep commitment to seeing their churches join under one banner and share their power to preach a common message.

Their latest meeting, on July 1, 2004, produced many concessions by both sides that may quickly see these two churches unite. Suddenly, past disagreements are being overshadowed by a common cause: "to restore to the European continent the awareness of its Christian roots..." ( L'Osservatore Romano, July 7, 2004).

As the budding European Union forms its constitution, some of its member states have resisted the idea of espousing one religion, or religious tenet, as the official belief of the Union. Both of these powerful churches wish for Europe to espouse an official religion. This is why their unification is so important. If they stand under one banner, their ability to influence the EU-and the world-will be much more successful. So far, many attempts have been made, but have come short of this goal.

However, their past is common. These churches share a common ancestry, but events occurring thousands of years ago caused their paths to fork. How did this happen? Will those events stop these two churches from reuniting? And will they be able to make certain that, as their recent Common Declaration stated, "the European Continent does not forget its own Christian roots"?

Events happening today were actually foretold thousands of years ago-that not only would these churches split, but that they would eventually reunify! And that reunification would be given the power to unite the European Union under their banner. While this may sound like an incredible-or even impossible-outcome, its fulfillment is certain and it will have a very deep-and REAL-impact on you!

A Road Divided

To understand events as they unfold in our time, we must pull back the curtain of history and see why these two churches separated in the first place. These events and their results will shed much light on the history imposed by the universal church at Rome.

After the death of Jesus Christ and the formation of the New Testament Church, certain figures began to appear. Their purpose, however, was not the same as that of the apostles, and neither were their teachings. The apostle Paul was already warning the early Church about a movement within their membership: "I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" ( Gal. 1:6-8).

Strong words!

The apostle Jude sheds even more light on this counterfeit movement: "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [license to sin], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" ( vs. 4).

Members of an ancient religion-"ordained of old"-were appearing within this young Church, seeking to change the message that Christ delivered into something else-a different gospel!

Mankind has always attempted to fight against God's way of life. When presented with the choice, man will almost always choose his way over God's. And this was clearly evident with the "ungodly men" who attempted to avert the Church's focus.

As time passed, the visible church changed rapidly. By A.D. 300, the church that called itself Christian was altogether different from the Church formed in A.D. 31, as can be seen by the writings of Bishop Eusebius, who lived during this time: "...we sank into negligence and sloth, one envying and reviling another in different ways; we were almost on the point of taking up arms against each other...people rising up against people, and hypocrisy and dissimulation of rising to the greatest height of malignity...some who appeared to be our pastors, deserting the law of piety, were enflamed against each other with mutual strifes, accumulating quarrels and threats, rivalry, hostility, and hatred to each other, only anxious to assert the government as a kind of sovereignty for themselves" ( The Church History of Eusebius, bk. viii, ch. 1).

Amazing words-and remarkable conduct-from those professing to be Christian. Much of this fighting centered over who should lead this counterfeit church-the Eastern or Western leg? While their teachings differed slightly, the battle was not over doctrine, it was over POWER! This power struggle continued until the western branch received support from an unlikely source-the imperial Roman authorities.

Approval-and Power-of Rome

Shortly after the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325), occurring in Asia Minor, Emperor Constantine changed the battle of these churches into a slaughter of many thousands. Constantine felt that unity was critical to ensuring that Roman power was maintained. And that unity, as stated in a public edict following Nicea, was to be executed by force:

"Victor Constantinus, Maximus Augustus, to the heretics [including those of the Eastern church]...we give warning by this present statute that none of you henceforth presume to assemble yourselves together. We have directed, accordingly, that you be deprived of all the houses in which you are accustomed to hold your assemblies: and our care in this respect extends so far as to forbid the holding of your superstitious and senseless meetings, not in public merely, but in any private house or place whatsoever. Let those of you, therefore...take the far better course of entering the catholic Church...And in order that this remedy may be applied with effectual power, we have commanded, as before said, that you be positively deprived of every gathering point of your superstitious meetings, I mean all the houses of prayer...and that these be made over without delay to the catholic Church; that any other places be confiscated to the public service, and no facility whatever be left for any future gathering; in order that from this day forward none of your unlawful assemblies may presume to appear in any public or private place. Let this edict be made public" ( Life of Constantine, Eusebius, bk. II, ch. 64, 65).

This effectively made it illegal to worship outside of the Catholic faith. Unity was forced upon the people of that time-by the edge of the sword! It seems that this is how human beings, if left on their own, achieve unity. Men are always divided-be it in word, action, or belief-unless they are forced to agree.

Would God's Church be so divided that its unity would need to be forced by the army of a civil government?

Look at the professing Christian churches today. Do they appear to be in unity? Do they agree on teaching, governance or any other matter? Their unity would have to be forced, like it was centuries ago. It has been said that the only thing man has learned from history is that he never learns from history. Soon, the universal church will be given power to once again force unity!

Unity Short-Lived

This forced unity of the fourth century only held for a short period of time. Constantine's powerful persona-and massive army-temporarily united these two fighting branches of the Greek and Roman churches. But it was only his personality that kept them together. The forced unity again turned into a power struggle after his death. In 1042, the Western and Eastern branches of the church once again separated, with each branch publicly declaring the other as a heretic.

This further shows what a strong leader with a powerful personality can achieve. There was no sense of unity or togetherness between these two branches. Yet, Constantine was able to hold them together with his personal presence.

The same is seen today. Powerful leaders are almost worshipped and when they die, the unity they were able to achieve crumbles. Only those with character are able to endure after a leader has left the scene. And from the quotes we have read, it is apparent that there was very little character in this counterfeit church.

In 1439, another attempt was made at unification, but this also ended in failure. Soon, however, another powerful attempt at unity will take place-and it will not fail. Again, this will only be because men will be forced to unify-by the might of an army!

Roads of Unification

The most recent meetings of the leaders of the eastern and western churches are just the latest step in moving them toward unity. Other steps have taken place, behind the scenes, to facilitate this move. One such event occurred in 1948, with the formation of The World Counsel of Churches (WCC). Its primary goal is to unite all professing Christian churches around the world.

While not an active member, in 1965, the Roman Catholic Church formed a Joint Working Group with this organization to promote the unity of these religious bodies. This is particularly interesting because the Eastern Orthodox Church holds much of the power in the WCC.

This is just one of the attempts to develop the ecumenical movement among the many churches. In light of the recent meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch, this serves to show that steps are very much underway, even if they are not as often reported.

The August 28, 2004 Economist did point out the aging pontiff's driving desire to complete this unification in his lifetime: "There is another indication that the pontiff is preparing for the end [of his life]: his increasingly determined push for reconciliation between Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, who have been formally divided for almost a millennium. As an eastern European, he is particularly sensitive over this issue."

Not only could these and other attempts serve to unite the eastern and western churches, they could also pave the way for all professing Christians to come under the common banner of the Roman Catholic Church.

However, even with all this politicking, it will take much more than agreements and understanding to unite these disagreeing bodies. As previously stated, the only way men will unite is by force, and this is almost certainly what will happen in the near future.

A Hidden People of Unity

Ask yourself: Does the conduct of "hypocrisy and dissimulation...strifes, accumulating quarrels and threats, rivalry, hostility, and hatred to each other" sound like a church that Jesus Christ would have built? Of course not! Consider Amos 3:3. As the God of the Old Testament, Christ asked, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

Christ is not divided-therefore, this was not Christ's Church! As shocking as that sounds, it is true! Notice this New Testament verse describing how unified the Church should be: "For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it" ( I Cor. 12:12-13, 25-26).

As you can see, God not only wants unity-He requires it! His people must be unified. This is not indicative of any church in the world at large. They cannot agree on the most basic of teachings-yet they profess to be of Christ. If they were truly His churches, Christ would not only be confused-but, in light of the above scriptures, also a liar! And God cannot lie!

There is a small Church running parallel with this great counterfeit church-one that focuses on what Christ taught. It has often been persecuted by these larger churches, but it refused to bend-refused to change. God's little flock stayed together in unity! And because of this, it still exists today. Its history is worth telling, because that history leads you to its doorstep today. To learn more about this small, persecuted flock's experiences over the last 2,000 years, read our book Where Is the True Church? - and Its Incredible History!.

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The Coming Reunification of East and West

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Recently, another attempt was made to establish common ground in what has been a rocky relationship between two churches with a checkered history. The current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church has made numerous attempts at reaching out to many religions. However, his strongest attempts have been to the Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

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After declaring their Independence Brazil was equally partnered forming the United Kingdom of Portugal. Prince Dom Pedro declared Brazil's independence from Portugal, founding the Empire of Brazil.

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Brazilian Independence | 3 Minute History

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there was a lot of major events by the times of 1859- 1871. There is just a ton of facts about the Article on Unification of Italy and they are just very interesting and cool to see what happened in our history.

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Summary

For many centuries, the Italian peninsula was a politically fragmented conglomeration of states. This was the case when the United States announced its independence from Great Britain in 1776. When war broke out between Austria and the Revolutionary French Government in 1792, the French invaded the Italian peninsula, consolidated many of the Italian states, and established them as republics. In 1799 the Austrian and Russian armies pushed the French out of the Italian peninsula, which led to the demise of the fledgling republics.

After Napoleon's rise to power, the Italian peninsula was once again conquered by the French. Under Napoleon, the peninsula was divided into three entities: the northern parts which were annexed to the French Empire (Piedmont, Liguria, Parma, Piacenza, Tuscany, and Rome), the newly created Kingdom of Italy (Lombardy, Venice, Reggio, Modena, Romagna, and the Marshes) ruled by Napoleon himself, and the Kingdom of Naples, which was first ruled by Napoleon's brother Joseph Bonaparte, but then passed to Napoleon's brother-in-law Joachim Murat.

The period of French invasion and occupation was important in many ways. It introduced revolutionary ideas about government and society, resulting in an overthrow of the old established ruling orders and the destruction of the last vestiges of feudalism. The ideals of freedom and equality were very influential. Also of consequence, the concept of nationalism was introduced, thus sowing the seeds of Italian nationalism throughout most parts of the northern and central Italian peninsula.

With the downfall of Napoleon in 1814 and the redistribution of territory by the Congress of Vienna (1814-15), most of the Italian states were reconstituted: the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia (often referred to as Sardinia), the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy of Parma, the Papal States, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (fused together from the old Kingdom of Naples and Kingdom of Sicily). These were largely conservative regimes, presided over by the old social orders.

Although the Italian peninsula remained fragmented through the mid-1800s, the concept of a united Italy began to take root. Secret societies formed to oppose the conservative regimes. Several of these societies also promoted Italian nationalism and the idea of a unified Italian political state. One such society was the group Young Italy, founded in 1831 by Guiseppe Mazzini. Mazzini was an ardent advocate of the necessity for Italian unification through the desires and actions of the Italian people. Thus, the movement of Italian unification, a process referred to as the Risorgimento (resurgence) proliferated by mid-century.

The revolutions of 1848 ignited nationalist sentiment throughout the Italian peninsula. There were widespread uprisings in several Italian cities that year, mostly by the professional classes (such as doctors, lawyers, shopkeepers) as well as students. Lombardy-Venetia and Milan tried to rise up against Austrian rule. Although the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia sent troops to aid the revolt, it was crushed by the Austrians at Custoza in July 1848. The Italian uprisings were unsuccessful and by 1849 the old regimes were once again in place.

Yet, the idea of the Risorgimento continued to gain adherents after 1848. The final push for Italian unification came in 1859, led by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia (then the wealthiest and most liberal of the Italian states), and orchestrated by Piedmont-Sardinia's Prime Minister, Count Camillo di Cavour. A skilled diplomat, Cavour secured an alliance with France. The Franco-Austrian War of 1859 was the agent that began the physical process of Italian unification. The Austrians were defeated by the French and Piedmontese at Magenta and Solferino, and thus relinquished Lombardy. By the end of the year Lombardy was added to the holdings of Piedmont-Sardinia.

The northern Italian states held elections in 1859 and 1860 and voted to join the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, a major step towards unification, while Piedmont-Sardinia ceded Savoy and Nice to France. Giuseppi Garibaldi, a native of Piedmont-Sardinia, was instrumental in bringing the southern Italian states into the unification process. In 1860, Garibaldi cobbled together an army (referred to as the "Thousand") to march into the southern part of the peninsula. Landing first in Sicily and then moving onwards into Naples, Garibaldi and his men overthrew the Bourbon monarchy and turned over the southern territories to Victor Emmanuel II, King of Piedmont-Sardinia. In early 1861 a national parliament convened and proclaimed the Kingdom of Italy, with Victor Emmanuel II as its king. At this point, there were only two major territories outside of the parameters of the new Kingdom of Italy: Rome and Venetia.

In 1866 Italy joined Prussia in a campaign against Austria (the 1866 Austro-Prussian War) and thus won Venetia. In 1870, taking advantage of the fact that France (the country responsible at the time for guarding the Papal States) was distracted by involvement in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), the Italian army entered Rome. That year, Rome and the Papal States were incorporated into Italy and the Risorgimento completed. During the summer of 1871, the Italian capital moved to Rome from Florence (it was moved from Turin to Florence in 1865).

Major Events

Overall Impact upon U.S. Foreign Policy

The history of recognitions (and the establishment of relations, where applicable) between the United States and the Italian states impacted several different areas of U.S. policy, including:

Trade and Commerce. The industrialization process that swept through the northern United States in the early nineteenth century spread through the northern and central Italian states in the mid-nineteenth century. As a result, the Italian states (and after 1861, the Kingdom of Italy) and the United States both sought to cultivate trade and commercial ties for mutual benefit.

Immigration and Citizenship. By the 1870s Italian immigration to the New World (both to the United States as well as to Argentina, amongst other South American countries) began to increase. Indeed, some of the "fathers" of modern Italy spent time in the United States. Garibaldi spent enough time in the U.S. to gain a U.S. passport, and was offered a commission in the U.S. Army during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War. The unification of the Italian states impacted the foreign policy of the United States in numerous ways. Perhaps the issue that had the most immediate impact upon U.S. foreign policy in the early 1860s was over the question of recognition of the U.S. Confederacy. The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed just as the U.S. Civil War began. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln wanted to ensure that the new Italian state did not recognize the U.S. Confederacy. Washington also worried that, with Italy's long coastline, Confederate ships might seek shelter in Italian waters. With this in mind, the Italian government gave "strong assurances that no Confederate ship would be admitted to Italian ports unless it was a question of adverse weather conditions or other vis major."

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Unification of Italian States - Countries - Office of the Historian

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Article on Reunification of Germany 1871

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Article on Reunification of Germany 1871

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Otto Van Bismarck had the nickname of "Iron Chancellor". Bismarck began the series of wars that would establish Prussian power in Europe.

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Otto von Bismarck, often referred to as the "Iron Chancellor," was the mastermind behind the unification of Germany. Through strategic diplomacy and nationalistic fervour, Bismarck paved the way for the birth of a united German nation.

With its newfound unity, Germany rapidly emerged as a formidable force in Europe. Bolstered by its industrial prowess, economic growth, and a powerful military, the nation exerted its influence on the global stage.

Under his leadership, the German Empire was formed, ending centuries of fragmentation. The symbolic significance of the unification ceremony cannot be understated. By deliberately choosing the Palace of Versailles, located outside Paris, as the venue instead of Berlin, Bismarck sent a powerful message. This decision represented a bold statement of military might and conquest, foreshadowing Germany's ambitions and its trajectory as a dominant European power throughout the first half of the 20th century.

Otto von Bismarck's legacy as the architect of German unification would shape not only the country's trajectory but also the geopolitical landscape of Europe for years to come.

A motley collection of states

Before 1871 Germany had always been a motley collection of states sharing little more than a common language.

Over 300 distinct states existed within the region, each differing in customs, systems of rule, and even religion. Unification seemed improbable and was often dismissed, much like the contemporary notion of a United States of Europe. However, the vision and determination of Otto von Bismarck would change the course of history.

As the 19th century progressed, a wave of nationalism began to sweep through Germany. The defeat of Napoleon by several German states played a significant role in fueling this nationalistic fervor. Initially, the call for unity was championed by students and middle-class liberal intellectuals who emphasised the importance of a shared language and a somewhat tenuous common history as unifying factors.

Few people took much notice beyond a few mildly nationalistic festivals, and the fact that the movement was confined to intellectuals was illustrated poignantly in the European revolutions of 1848, where a brief stab at a national German parliament quickly fizzled out and this attempted Reichstag never held much political power.

After this, it seemed that German unification was no nearer to happening than ever. The kings, princes and dukes of the German states, typically opposed to unification for obvious reasons, generally retained their power.

The power of Prussia

The power balance of the German states was important, for if one was ever more powerful than the others put together, then it might attempt conquest of intimidation. By 1848 Prussia, a conservative and militaristic kingdom in the east of Germany, had been the strongest of the states for a century.

However, it was restrained by the combined strength of the other states, and, more importantly, by the influence of the neighbouring Austrian Empire, which would not allow any German state to have too much power and become a possible rival.

After a brief flirtation with revolution in 1848, the Austrians had restored order and the status quo, humiliating Prussia in the process. When the formidable statesman von Bismarck was appointed Minister-President of that country in 1862, he aimed to restore Prussia as a great European power.

After effectively taking command of the country unconstitutionally, he vastly improved the military for which Prussia would become famous. Bismarck harnessed the aspirations of the German people and united them under a singular cause.

The defeat of Austria in the Seven Weeks' War

The war that followed in 1866 was a resounding Prussian victory which radically changed a European political landscape which had remained virtually the same since the defeat of Napoleon.

Many of Prussia's rival states had joined Austria and been cowed and defeated, and the Empire then turned its attentions away from Germany in order to restore some of its severely battered prestige. The ethnic tensions that this move created would later kick-start World War One.

Prussia, meanwhile, was able to form the other beaten states in North Germany into a coalition which was effectively the beginnings of a Prussian Empire. Bismarck had masterminded the whole business and now reigned supreme - and though not a natural nationalist he was now seeing the potential of a fully united Germany ruled by Prussia.

This was a far cry from the heady dreams of the earlier intellectuals, but, as Bismarck famously said, unification would have to be achieved, if it was to be achieved, by "blood and iron."

He knew, however, that he could not rule a united country dogged by infighting. The south remained unconquered and the north was only tenuously under his control. It would take a war against a foreign and historic enemy to unite Germany, and the one that he had in mind was particularly hated across Germany after Napoleon's wars.

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71

France was ruled at this point by the great man's nephew, Napoleon III, who did not have his uncle's brilliance or military skill.

Through a series of clever diplomatic tactics Bismarck was able to provoke Napoleon into declaring war on Prussia, and this seemingly aggressive move on France's part kept the other European powers such as Britain from joining her side.

It also created a furious anti-French feeling across Germany, and when Bismarck moved Prussia's armies into position, they were joined - for the first time in history - by men from every other German state. The following war was devastating for the French.

The large and well trained German armies won many victories - most notably at Sedan in September 1870, a defeat which persuaded Napoleon to resign and live out the last miserable year of his life in exile in England. The war did not end there however, and the French fought on without their Emperor.

A few weeks after Sedan, Paris was under siege, and the war only ended when it fell in late January 1871. In the meantime, Bismarck had gathered the German generals princes and Kings at Versailles and proclaimed the new and ominously powerful country of Germany, changing the political landscape of Europe.

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Otto von Bismarck: Architect of German Unification

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Otto von Bismarck, often referred to as the "Iron Chancellor," was the mastermind behind the unification of Germany. Through strategic...

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Italy was a political and social movement that consolidated different states of the Italian peninsula's. It had a giant impact on Italy culture.

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Video of Reunification of Germany under Otto Van Bismarck.

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Video of Reunification of Germany under Otto Van Bismarck.

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Bismarck was the Foreign Minister. He was one of the keys to Unification of Germany.

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How Otto von Bismarck Reshaped Europe | Tooky History