Culture has played an important role in the development of nationalism in Europe during 18th and 19th centuries.’ Support the statement with examples OR Explain any three causes of conflict in the ‘Balkan area’ after 1871.
Answers
The nationalist tensions emerged in the Balkans due to the following reasons:
(i) Balkans was a region of geographical and ethnic variation comprising modern-day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro whose inhabitants were known as the Slavs. A large part of Balkans was under the control of the Ottoman empire.
(ii) After the decline of the Ottoman empire and the growth of romantic nationalism in the Balkans, the region became very explosive. Its European subject nationalities broke away from its control and declared independence.
(iii) As the different nationalities struggled to define their identity and independence, the Balkan area became an area of intense conflict. The Balkan states were fiercely jealous of each other and each hoped to gain more territory at the expense of others.
(iv) Balkan also became the scene of big power rivalry. Russia, Germany, England, Austria, Hungry — all big powers were keen in countering the hold of other powers. This ultimately turned Balkan into a war region which eventually provided a minor cause for the First World War
Culture played an important role in creating the idea of a nation in Europe in the following ways.
1. Art, music, literature and drama helped to express, shape and strengthen nationalist sentiments.
2. Romantics like the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder held the view that true German culture could be discovered only among the common people, the das volk.
3.Glorification of reason and science was criticised by the romantic artists, rather they favoured emotions, intuitions and mystical feelings.
4.Language too boosted nationalism. The Polish people opposed the Russian occupation and the ban on Polish language, by using it in the Church gathering for all religious ceremonies and for religious instruction. The Polish language became a weapon of the nationalists.
5.Two Germans, Grimm Brothers, used stories and folktales written in German to promote the German spirit against the domination of the French.
6.Operas and music, like that of Karol Kurpinski, kept alive the national spirit.
7.Folk dances like the polonaise and mazurki became national symbols.