Question

describe the factors/events that led to the emergence of national states in Europe (10marks)​

Answer 1

Explanation: A nation-state is a defined territory with a sovereign government, made up of people sharing a common culture, history, and language. It's what's usually meant when we hear terms like nation or country.

1)  There were no ‘nation states’ in Europe in the mid 18th century. European countries like Germany, Switzerland, and Italy were divided into kingdoms, duchies, cantons whose rulers had their autonomous territories.  

 

2)  People living in these territories spoke different languages and belonged to different ethnic groups. These differences did not promote a sense of political unity and the only tie binding them was the common allegiance to the Emperor1) There were no 'nation states' in Europe in the mid 18th century.

 

3)   Ideas of national unity in Europe were closely associated with the ideology of liberalism. The term liberalism means free in Latin.