Since the 19th century, beginning in Britain, a series of inventions have profoundly revolutionized the world economy.

The French Revolution was the process that began with a challenge to the rule of Louis XVI and ended with Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power.

The Mexican Revolution began in 1910 against Porfirio Díaz and reshaped Mexico through civil war, land demands and the Constitution of 1917.

For three centuries, Brazil was ruled by Portugal under a harsh colonial system whose practices continued long after independence.

The Protestant Reformation broke Western Christianity in the 16th century, while the Catholic Counter-Reformation reorganized doctrine, discipline and missions.

The Risorgimento made Italy become an independent country thanks to revolutionaries like Garibaldi and moderates like Cavour.

The Estates-General of 1789 turned France’s fiscal crisis into a dispute over representation and national sovereignty.

The English Civil War grew from disputes over taxation, religion, Parliament, and control of armed force under Charles I.

Garibaldi was a major leader of the unification of Italy and he had an adventurous and tumultuous personal life.