Concepts of Nationalism

This led to a rise of distinctive identity between the Europeans which later blossomed into nationalism. .
             As Europeans started identifying themselves more on the basis of their culture and traditions a new set of ideas and emerged out. These new political ideas developed out the medieval feudal Europe and led to political factions, revolutions and class struggles leading to new government and leaders. Nationalism was at its peak in European nations such as France and Germany in the 18th and 19th century. This rising sense of nationalism either united nations such as the Unification of Germany or divided them as happened in the successful Balkan revolutions against the Ottomans and the Arab revolution against the Ottoman Empire during the WW1. .
             The French revolution is often credited to be the event that led to the rise of nationalism. France was a divided nation prior to this revolution. It was divided into its various regions, their various rulers and their people or subjects. Towards the late 18th century the French people starting seeing themselves as proud citizens of a nation rather than subjects to serve their kings. This instigated nationalism among the French. During the late 18th century when the French armies were at war with the rest of the European nations, French nationalism was at its peak. The French army was a national army composing of solider who were citizen's fight for their own cause. The French nationalism arose as a consequence of the French revolution and was civic in nature as it was based on common beliefs and ideas. .
             As nationalism spread through Europe it entered a period of nationalism which later entered to a newer period – Imperialism. The newly nation states of Europe began to control territories overseas and exercise political and economic control over these territories. In the 20th century these imperial colonies themselves experiences various nationalistic movements to establish their own rule in their nations and to gain independence from the European rule as in India, Nigeria and other colonized nations.