
In Relevant History, solo podcaster Dan Toler examines the trends and ideas that shape our modern world. The first season is about the idea of nationalism, and how different societies understand their national identities. From France to Ethiopia, from the Delhi Sultanate to the Dutch Republic, we travel through time and space to explore the roots of cultures around the world, and how those national trends have shaped their history.
Episodes

Wednesday Feb 19, 2025
Episode 65 - The Revolutions of 1848
Wednesday Feb 19, 2025
Wednesday Feb 19, 2025
Often called the “Springtime of Nations,” the year 1848 is one of turmoil throughout Europe. Revolutions are everywhere, from France to Romania.
In Germany, Prussia is ascendant. Rather than fight calls for German nationalization, savvy King Friedrich Wilhelm IV puts himself at the head of the revolution. Austria watches helplessly from the sidelines, distracted by trouble at home and abroad.
In Italy, King Charles Albert of Piedmont-Sardinia battles the Austrians for control in the north, while local revolutions topple governments in Venice, Florence, and Rome itself.
I apologize for the drop in audio quality from roughly 1:58:30 to 2:11:20. Audacity wasn’t recording for that portion so I had to make do with the already-compressed audio from OBS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter One: The Sleeping Volcano – 00:04:43
Chapter Two: The Fall of Metternich – 00:32:33
Chapter Three: The Vienna Uprising and the Hungarian Rebellion – 01:01:34
Chapter Four: Enter Franz Joseph – 01:31:34
Chapter Five: Crisis in Germany – 01:41:53
Chapter Six: The Curious Case of Lola Montez – 02:13:48
Chapter Seven: King Friedrich Wilhelm, the Conservative Revolutionary – 02:13:48
Chapter Eight: The First Schleswig-Holstein War – 02:24:20
Chapter Nine: The Revolution in Venice – 02:42:33
Chapter Ten: Charles Albert Versus Radetzky – 03:14:53
Chapter Eleven: Enter Garibaldi – 03:36:46
Chapter Twelve: A Sidebar on Sicily – 04:01:17
Chapter Thirteen: The Return of Mazzini – 04:08:29
Chapter Fourteen: Charles Albert Tries Again – 04:22:51
Chapter Fifteen: The Fall of the Roman Republic – 04:32:27
Chapter Sixteen: The Siege of Venice – 04:47:07
Chapter Seventeen: The End of the Revolution – 04:58:57
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Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRXQnNgiTX89RksqftH8gEfgwhpUtw6tHz9-zvMh4o3ddwcwq2rMui9dkFfpXixkpNVDD6xR9xtQHb8/pub
Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan
SOURCES:
David Blackbourn, The Long Nineteenth Century: A History of Germany 1780-1918 – https://www.scribd.com/document/261666797/Long-Nineteenth-Century-History-of-Germany-1780-1918-the-David-Blackbourn
Tim Chapman, The Risorgimento: Italy 1815-71 – https://read.amazon.com/?asin=B003SNK19G&ref_=dbs_t_r_kcr
Gordon A. Craig, Germany 1866-1945
Friedrich Engels, Germany: Revolution and Counter-Revolution – https://archive.org/details/germanyrevolutio00enge_0
Erich Eyck, Bismarck and the German Empire
Giuseppe Garibaldi, Autobiography of Giuseppe Garibaldi –
-Volume 1: https://archive.org/details/autobiographyofg0001gari/page/n3/mode/2up
-Volume 2: https://archive.org/details/autobiographyofg0002gari/page/n3/mode/2up
-Supplement by Jesse White Mario: https://archive.org/details/autobiographyofg0003gari/page/4/mode/2up
Paul Ginsborg, Daniele Manin and the Venetian Revolution of 1848-1849 - https://archive.org/details/danielemaninvene0000gins/page/n5/mode/2up
James Morton, Lola Montez: Her Life & Conquests - https://archive.org/details/lolamontezherlif0000mort/page/80/mode/2up
Robin Okey, The Habsburg Monarchy: From Enlightenment to Eclipse – https://archive.org/details/habsburgmonarchy0000okey/page/n5/mode/2up
Jürgen Osterhammel, The Transformation of the World, A Global History of the Nineteenth Century – https://www.everand.com/read/261688401/The-Transformation-of-the-World-A-Global-History-of-the-Nineteenth-Century
Alan Palmer, Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis Joseph – https://archive.org/details/twilightofhabsbu0000palm
Carlo Pisacane, Guerra Combattuta in Italia Neglo Anni 1848-49
Mike Rapport, 1848, Year of Revolution
Denis Mack Smith, The Making of Italy, 1796-1870 – https://archive.org/details/makingofitaly1790000mack/page/n3/mode/2up
Denis Mack Smith, Modern Italy, A Political History
Nick Svendsen, The First Schleswig-Holstein War 1848-50 – https://www.everand.com/read/402302021/The-First-Schleswig-Holstein-War-1848-50
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