text_original: This natural disunion had been strengthened by the nominal subjection of Italy to the Emperors, whose dominion, however shadowy, had been sufficient to prevent the rise of any strong national power ; whilst the influence of the Popes, who were temporal lords in their own estates, as well as the heads of Christendom, produced much the same effect.
text_transcription: THIS NATURAL DISUNION HAD BEEN STRENGTHENED BY THE NOMINAL SUBJECTION OF ITALY TO THE EMPERORS WHOSE DOMINION HOWEVER SHADOWY HAD BEEN SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THE RISE OF ANY STRONG NATIONAL POWER WHILST THE INFLUENCE OF THE POPES WHO WERE TEMPORAL LORDS IN THEIR OWN ESTATES AS WELL AS THE HEADS OF CHRISTENDOM PRODUCED MUCH THE SAME EFFECT
phonemes: ðɪs nˈætʃɚɹəl dɪsjˈuːniən hɐdbɪn stɹˈɛŋθənd baɪ ðə nˈɑːmɪnəl sʌbdʒˈɛkʃən ʌv ˈɪɾəli tə ðɪ ˈɛmpɚɹɚz, hˌuːz dəmˈɪniən, haʊˈɛvɚ ʃˈædoʊi, hɐdbɪn səfˈɪʃənt tə pɹɪvˈɛnt ðə ɹˈaɪz ʌv ˌɛni stɹˈɔŋ nˈæʃənəl pˈaʊɚ ; wˌaɪlst ðɪ ˈɪnfluːəns ʌvðə pˈoʊps, hˌuː wɜː tˈɛmpɚɹəl lˈɔːɹdz ɪn ðɛɹ ˈoʊn ᵻstˈeɪts, æz wˈɛl æz ðə hˈɛdz ʌv kɹˈɪsəndəm, pɹədˈuːst mˈʌtʃ ðə sˈeɪm ɪfˈɛkt.