Question

How did the concept of nation state developed in Europe? What was it successful in the formation of native States?

Answer 1

Dear Student

1. Concept of Nation States started with the French Revolution in 1789 in France which affected the middle classes in Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy.
2. The French armies carried forward this idea with revolutionary wars.
3. Germany, Italy and Switzerland were divided into kingdoms and the growth of towns led to new social groups which favoured national unity.
4. This led to the Age of Revolutions between 1830-1848-with Bourbon kings overthrown in France and the Greeks got independence from the Ottoman Empire.
5. Not only wars and expansion brought nationalism, culture in the form of art and poetry also played a role.
6. Romanticism created a sense of heritage and common past which encouraged Nationalism.
7. This led to the formation of successful nation states-Germany and Italy after 1848.

Regards