Napoleon Bonaparte's conquests are often cited as an example of the importance of having a unified Europe. Why did it take another World War for Europe to unify?

&#x200B;<br><br>Europe had been at war for most of the 20th century, and yet, Napoleon had been defeated over 200 years earlier. So, what took so long?<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>Well, for starters, the great powers of Europe like France and Britain didn't want a unified Europe, especially not under German control. They saw it as a threat to their power. In fact, Britain even opposed the idea of a European parliament until the 1990s.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>Another thing that delayed unification was the devastation of World War I. Europe was exhausted and didn't have the resources or the will to create a unified state.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>After World War II, the allies created a system of international cooperation to prevent future wars. The Marshall Plan helped rebuild Europe's economy, and the Council of Europe promoted cooperation. But a unified Europe still wasn't on the agenda.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>It wasn't until the 1960s and 70s that the idea of a unified Europe started to gain traction. The European Economic Community was created, and the European Union was established. But the process was slow, and it wasn't until the fall of communism in 1989 that the path to a unified Europe finally opened up.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>So, why did it take so long for Europe to unify after Napoleon? Well, it took a long time for Europe's great powers to come together, for the devastation of World War I to heal, and for the allies to create a system of international cooperation.