Swiss Confederation: Birth and Evolution

This lecture covers the period from the Old Confederation to the modern Switzerland, focusing on the construction of a national identity. It delves into the pact of 1291, the official birth of Switzerland, and the foundation of the modern Swiss Confederation in 1848. The emergence of Switzerland as a crossroads and a border zone, the complex political structures during the Ancien Régime, and the revolutionary period leading to the birth of modern Switzerland are discussed. The lecture also explores Switzerland's role as a buffer and border zone between European powers, its progressive territorial expansions, and the impact of major events like the Battle of Marignano and the Protestant Reformation on the Swiss Confederation.