alternatehistory.com

Starting with a PoD in 1500, what could be done to create an Italy containing:

Nice
Corsica
Savoy/Haute Savoy
Austrian Littoral/Trieste
Dalmatia
Ragusa
Italy (OTL)

And ceding South Tirol to Austria, and giving an Italy that is relatively corruption-free, prosperous, and as economically vibrant as countries like Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, or the US have been for much of the 20th century.

As much as possible, everything else remains close to OTL.

Bonus question: Greece with Constantinople, Northern Epirus, Dardanelles, Smyrna, Crete, and Cyprus (basically the entire Aegean) with the same 1500 PoD and stable, corruption-free, and prosperous (no tax evasion problems, relatively tolerant). Double bonus for Constantinople returning to Greece closer to 1500.

The biggest change is the English defeat of the Spanish Armada, then the English Armada crushes the Spanish more decisively. The Dutch thereafter save New Holland in South America. (not sure if that makes any difference).
Top