The factor that motivated 19th-century unification movements in both Germany and Italy was:
C. The spread of nationalist ideas.
Explanation:
1. Nationalist ideas emphasized the shared history, culture, and language of a specific group of people, fostering a sense of unity and a desire for independence and sovereignty.
2. In both Germany and Italy, various regions were fragmented into smaller states, leading to a common aspiration among the people to unify these states into a single nation based on shared national identity.
3. Prominent figures like Giuseppe Mazzini in Italy and Otto von Bismarck in Germany championed the cause of nationalism, advocating for the unification of their respective countries.
4. The spread of nationalist ideas played a pivotal role in mobilizing support for the unification movements and challenging the existing political boundaries to create unified nation-states like the Kingdom of Italy and the German Empire.
