In this session we are going to look at a brief introduction on the Rise of Nationalism in Europe. This will be followed up by Detailed sessions on important revolutions in our upcoming videos.
During the nineteenth century, nationalism emerged as a force which brought about sweeping changes in the political and mental world of Europe.
As a result of this Many nation-state emerged over multi-national dynastic empires of Europe. The concept and practices of a modern state, in which a centralised power exercised sovereign control over a clearly defined territory, had been developing over a long period of time in Europe. But a nation-state was one in which the majority of its citizens, and not only its rulers, came to develop a sense of common identity and shared history or descent.
This commonness did not exist from time immemorial; it was forged through struggles, through the actions of leaders and the common people.
It all started with a series of four prints where Frédéric Sorrieu, a French artist visualised “a world made up of ‘democratic and social Republics” in 1848.
It was common to visualise liberty as a female figure then. Similarly the art shown peoples of Europe and America – men and women of all ages and social classes – marching in a long train, and offering homage to the statue of Liberty.
She bears a torch of Enlightenment on one hand and the “Charter of Rights of Man” on the other hand.
The art has shattered remains of the monarchies on the earth in the foreground.
Sorrieu has grouped people of the world as distinct nations basis on their flags and national costume on the Print Art.
In the visualisation United States and Switzerland are leading from front and way past the Statue of Liberty since they were already became nation-states by the time.
France, has just reached the statue, closely followed by Germany, Austria, Kingdom of Two Sicilies, Lombardy, Poland, England, Ireland, Hungary and Russia.
From the heavens above, Christ, saints and angels gaze upon the scene. They have been used by the artist to symbolise fraternity among the nations of the world.
What is a Nation?
French philosopher Ernst Renan (1823-92) outlined his understanding of what makes a nation In a lecture delivered at the University of Sorbonne in 1882. The lecture later got published as an essay titles “What is a Nation?”. He criticised the notion suggested by others that a nation is formed by a common language, race, religion, or territory in the essay.
As per Ernst Renon,
‘A nation is the culmination of a long past of endeavours, sacrifice and devotion. A heroic past, great men, glory, that is the social capital upon which one bases a national idea.
To have common glories in the past, to have a common will in the present, to have performed great deeds together, to wish to perform still more, these are the essential conditions of being a people. A nation is therefore a large-scale solidarity … Its existence is upvoted by its people on a daily basis …
A province is its inhabitants; if anyone has the right to be consulted, it is the inhabitant. A nation never has any real interest in annexing or holding on to a country against its will. The existence of nations is a good thing, a necessity even. Their existence is a guarantee of liberty, which would be lost if the world had only one law and only one master.’
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