The political structure of the Italian peninsula prior to 1861 was a fragmented group of small kingdoms. There was no political cohesion while internal fighting and rivalries were hampering progress. However, the people of the Italian peninsula, shared culture, language, and a historical background. Some Italian leaders began calling for nationalism with the goal of bringing Italy together into a united state with an autonomous rule. Germany, during the Metternich Age, was also a fragmented country. For many of the same reasons, there was a nationalistic movement calling for the unification of Germany. Many felt that in order to be considered a legitimate nation with political power, Germany would have to have become unified.