THE RISE OF NATIONALISM IN EUROPE

FREDERIC SORRIEU AND HIS VISUALISATION

● Frederic sorrieu , is a French artist , who prepared a series of four paintings in 1848
● He visualized his dreams that is a world of social and democratic republic in his painting
● His rst painting shows the people of Europe and America marching in a train, and
offering homage to Statue of Liberty
● It also illustrates the Statue of Liberty holding a torch of enlightenment and the charter of
the right of people in the other hand
● Leading the procession are USA and Switzerland , followed by France and Germany .
Following Germany are Austria , kingdom of two sicilie, lombaray , England , Poland ,
Ireland , Hungary and Russia
● From the heaven above Christ, saints and angels gaze at scene . They symbolises
fraternity among all the nations of the world
FRENCH REVOLUTION AND THE IDEA OF THE NATION
1. What Was France Like Before the Revolution?
● France was ruled by an absolute monarchy under King Louis XVI.
● People were servants of the king, not citizens.
● Society was divided into three estates:
First Estate: Clergy (priests)
Second Estate: Nobility (lords, landowners)
Third Estate: Common people (peasants, workers, middle class)
● Only the Third Estate paid taxes.
● There was no equality, and the common people had no rights or voice in governance.
2. Start of the French Revolution (1789)
● the French Revolution in 1789 was the start of nationalism
● Earlier the power was in hand of king or queen later on , it got shifted to the people and
old system was changed.
● as the Nationalism spread France was for the rst country to start revolution.
● the revolution brought a new idea: “the nation belongs to its people, not the king”
● The French Revolution led to the transfer of sovereignty from monarchy to the French
citizens

● The French revolutionaries introduced various measures and practises to create a sense
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● The constitution in France came into existence and people were rewarded with rights of
liberty and equality
● revolutionaries believed in liberty , equality and fraternity (brotherhood)
● The French revolutionaries introduced various measures and practises to create a sense
of collective identity amongst French people. These were
1. for making a country common identity was required to be developed , so the idea of la
patrie ( the fatherland) and la citoyen (the citizens ) were adopted.
2. Formation of constitutional monarchy and reduction of royal and feudal privileges
3. New ag was introduced for France that was tricolour ( blue, white and red)
4. Estate general was renamed as national assembly by the third estate representatives
especially the active citizens
5. New hymns were composed and oaths were taken
6. Centralised administrative system was formed in France
7. Internal custom duties and dues were abolished
8. Uniform system of weight and measurement was introduced
9. Regional languages were discouraged and French was given importance (french was
chosen as the common language for France )
3. France mission to spread nationalism
● French revolutionaries believed it was their duty to help other European countries achieve
freedom from oppressive rulers.
● They aimed to spread the ideals of the French Revolution—liberty, equality, and fraternity
Across Europe.
● This was seen as a mission to assist other nations in becoming free and self-governing.
4. In uence of the French Revolution across the Europe
● News of the French Revolution inspired people in other European countries.
● It inspired students and educated middle class people
● Theses people formed jacobin clubs in their own country . Jacobins club work-
1. promoted revolutionary ideas (freedom , equality)
2. Demanded end of monarchy and privileges
3. Prepares people mentally for revolution and change
French armies in Europe
● these jacobin clubs prepared the way for the french armies
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● In the 1790s, french troops entered holland, Belgium, Switzerland and much of Italy
● as France fought was after revolution , its armies spread the ideas of freedom , equality
and nationalism to other European countries
5. Napoleon
● napoleon bonaparte was a military general who became the ruler (emperor) of France
after the French Revolution
● He came to power in 1799 and declared himself emperor in 1804
● Napoleon conquered many parts of Europe
● In those region , he applied the same reforms that he had used in France
● Although Napoleon became monarch ( the king ) and ended democratic rule. He still he
followed some ideas of French Revolution , he also controlled power completely
● Introduced the civil code (napoleonic code) - 1804
1. the code establishes equality before the law and abolishes all privileges based on birth
2. Right to property that is protected the right to own and inherit parents property etc
● Napoleon spread the code (law ) to the countries he controlled - like Italy , Germany ,
Switzerland ,etc
● in these region
1. he simpli ed government systems
2. Ended feudalism ( where landlords had too much control
3. Freed pleasant from being tied to landlords and paying extra due
● in cities , napolean
1. removed guilds( old trade system)
2. Improved roads, transports , and communication , making trade easier
● common people like farmers ( peasants), craftsmen( artisians) , worker and business . All
gained freedom and opportunities under the napoleon reform
● Business man and small scale producers started to understand that
1. same law, same weights and same currency across regions
2. Made trading and selling goods much easier
3. Helped in economic growth and national unity
● People in the countries conquered by France had mixed feelings about French rule.
● At rst - positive
1. in places like holland,Switzerland,Brussels,Milan,Warsaw,etc people welcomed the french
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2. they believed the french armies would bring freedom and equality (like in the French
Revolution )
3 . French armies were seen as bringers of liberty
● later - negative .
1. over time , people became unhappy because there was high taxation ( more money was
taken from the people)
2. censorship ( only positive things about french or napolean. We’re allowed to publish and
negative opinions were banned
3. People were forced to join the french army ( called conscription) to ght more wars
● so although the french brought administration reforms , they did not give political freedom
● The burdens were more than the bene ts , so enthusiasm turned into anger
MAKING OF NATIONALISM IN EUROPE
No Nation-States Yet (Mid-1700s):
● In the 18th century, modern countries like Germany, Italy, and Switzerland didn’t exist as
uni ed nations.
● These areas were broken into smaller regions like kingdoms, duchies (ruled by dukes),
and cantons (small states).
● Each had its own ruler and laws.
Eastern and Central Europe – Autocratic Rule:
● These regions were controlled by powerful monarchs (kings/emperors) who ruled over
many different communities.
● People living in the same empire often:Spoke different languages ,Belonged to different
ethnic and cultural groups and Did not feel united or part of one nation
The Habsburg Empire Example (Austria-Hungary):
● It was a multi-national empire — a mix of many regions and people.
● Included:German-speaking aristocracy (in Austria, Tyrol, Bohemia) ,Italian speakers (in
Lombardy and Venetia) , Magyar speakers in Hungary ,Polish-speaking nobles in Galicia
Other groups like Slovaks, Croats, Roumans, Slovenes, etc.
● These groups had different cultures, languages, and identities.
No Common Unity:
● All these groups were only united by loyalty to the emperor.But there was no real sense of
nation or unity — everyone felt separate.
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How did nationalism and the idea of the nation-state emerge?
Nationalism and the idea of the nation-state emerged in the 19th century as people began to
demand freedom from foreign rule and unity based on shared language, culture, and history.
Inspired by the French Revolution, they believed that a nation should be made up of people
with a common identity, governed by their own laws. This led to movements for uni cation
(like in Italy and Germany) and independence from empires.
The aristocracy and the new middle class
Aristocracy
● In most parts of Europe, the aristocrats (rich landowners with titles) were the most
powerful class in society and politics.
● These aristocrasts had a similar lifestyle (manners , clothes , habits ) , no matter which
region they came from
● Aristocrats were very rich — they had large farms or estates (often worked by peasants)
in villages, and also luxurious homes in cities where they attended parties, politics, and
other events.
● French was the language of the rich and the powerful people . It was used in politics or
cultural talks by the upper class across the Europe
● Aristocratic families from different countries often married among themselves to keep their
status and wealth strong
● even though they were very rich and powerful , the number of acristocrats was small
compared to general population of Europe
New middle class
● Most people in Europe were peasants — poor farmers who worked on land owned by the
aristocrats. They paid rent, taxes, or gave crops to landowners.
● Starting from the late 1700s, parts of Europe — especially the West and Central regions
— began to develop industries like textiles, iron, and coal mining. This process is called
industrialisation.
● As factories and cities grew, new types of people appeared in society. These groups were
not peasants or aristocrats — they had a new role in the economy.
● As industries grew, new groups like the working class (workers) and middle class
(businessmen, professionals) emerged
● In Central and Eastern Europe, these groups were smaller in number till the late 1800s.
● The educated middle class began to support national unity and equality.
● They wanted to end the special rights of the aristocracy and build a nation based on
freedom and equal law
Liberal nationalism
What is Liberal Nationalism?
● Liberal Nationalism is a combination of national unity and liberal ideals.
● It focuses on creating a uni ed nation where people with a shared culture, language, and
history live together under one government, while promoting individual freedoms and
democracy
● Liberalism comes from the Latin word ‘liber’, meaning free.
● For the middle class, it meant:Freedom of the individual,Equality before the law ,End of
absolute monarchy ,Constitutional and elected government (parliament)
Liberalism and Political Rights:
● Liberals wanted a government by consent (elected by the people).
● They opposed autocracy (absolute monarchies) and church control.
● They supported private property rights.
3. Limitations in Voting Rights:
● Equality before law ≠ universal voting rights.
● In Revolutionary France: Only property-owning men could vote ,Women and poor men
were excluded.
● Under Jacobins, all adult males had voting rights brie y.
● Napoleon’s Code again limited voting and treated women as minors under male authority.
● This led to movements by women and poor men demanding equal political rights.
4. Liberalism in Economy:
● In economy, liberalism meant:Free markets ,No restrictions on trade, movement of goods,
or capital.
● Middle class strongly supported this during the 19th century.
5. Problems in German-Speaking Regions (Pre-Zollverein):
● Germany was divided into 39 small states (due to Napoleon’s changes).
● Each state had:Different currencies , Different systems of weights and measures
Customs duties at borders
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● Example: A merchant travelling from Hamburg to Nuremberg in 1833 had to:
Cross 11 customs checkpoints ,Pay around 5% tax at each one and Deal with confusing
measurement units (e.g., elle for cloth was different everywhere)
Zollverein (Customs Union) – 1834:
● Formed by Prussia and later joined by most German states.
● Achievements:
1. Removed trade barriers (customs duties)
2. Reduced currencies from 30+ to just 2
3. Uni ed economic territory for easier trade
4. Railways boosted movement of goods and people
Link to Nationalism:
● This economic uni cation increased nationalist feelings.
● People began to see the bene ts of a united country, both economically and politically
New conservation after 1815 (congress of Vienna )
● In 1815, after the defeat of Napoleon, European powers met at the Congress of Vienna.
● The aim was to restore monarchies and maintain political stability in Europe
What is Conservatism?
● Conservatism means protecting traditional institutions like:Monarchy ,Church and Social
hierarchies
● Conservatives believed in gradual change, not revolutions.
Key Objectives of Conservatives
● Restore monarchs overthrown by Napoleon.
● Preserve the power of traditional institutions.
● Suppress liberal and nationalist movements.
● Maintain balance of power so no country becomes too strong.
Congress of Vienna (1815):
● Led by Austrian Chancellor Metternich.
● Decisions made:
1. Monarchies were restored in places like France, Spain, and the German states.
2. Bourbon dynasty was restored in France
(Louis XVIII became the king he was the brother of Louis XVI)
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● Decision made for territorial rearrangement
1. France border reduced to what they were before napoleon
2. Austria got control over Northern Italy.
3. Prussia got important parts of Germany and Poland.
4. Russia got a large part of Poland.
5. kingdom of the Netherlands was created , including Belgium and Poland
6. Genoa ( in Italy ) was added to piedmont
● strict measures were planned to stop revolutionary ideas and control press and speech
● A system was created to ensure no one country becomes too powerful
● This was called the balance of power to maintain peace
The revolutionaries
● in 1815 , year of repression started which leads to secret societies
● Who were revolutionaries
These were committed to oppose monarchy system established after Vienna treaty
● one prominent revolutionary was giuseppe Mazzini . He was born in genoa in1807
● He joined a secret revolutionary group called the carbonari
● at the age of 24 , he was exiled (forced to leave the country )in 1831 for trying to start a
revolution in the region of Liguria
● After exile, he started young italy ( in marseille) and young Europe ( in Berne), secret
societies that spread nationalist ideas
● People from different countries joined young Europe . All delivered in liberty , democracy
and national unity
● he believed that god had intended nations to be the natural units of mankind
● He wanted to unify Italy - not keep it divided into small regions ruled by different kings
● Mazzini’s goals: a united Italian republic , part of a greater European unit
● He believed only national unity could give true freedom to Italians
● His ideas inspired secret revolutionary groups in many other countries
● kings and rulers where afraid of him because he wanted to remove monarchies and build
democracies
● Duke Metternich ( a powerful conservative leader ) called Mazzini a threat to peace and
social order
THE AGE OF REVOLUTION : 1830-1848
As the monarchies of Europe worked to strengthen their rule after the Napoleonic Wars,
movements for liberalism and nationalism became tied to revolutionary actions in several
parts of Europe, including Italy, Germany , Ottoman Empire,Ireland and Poland . The
revolutions were mostly driven by the educated middle class such as teachers
professors ,etc, who supported liberal and nationalist idea.
● france revolution in 1830 marked start of widespread uprising across Europe
● Bourbon kings were overthrown and a constitutional monarchy with Louis Philippe was
established
● Metternich said “when France sneezes , the rest of Europe catches cold” showing
France revolutions often in uence other European countries
● The July revolution in France led to Belgium separating from Netherlands and forming its
own nation
● Greek war of independence
1. the Greek war of independence in 1821 sparked nationalism across Europe
2. Greece had been controlled by Ottoman Empire for centuries . However ,rising nationalist
feeling in Europe led to a revolt for independence in 1821 .Greeks in exile (Jail) and
Western European supported Greece due to admiration for Ancient Greek culture
3. Poets like lord Byron supported Greece as the birthplace of European civilisation
4. Poet lord Byron went to ght for Greeks dut died due to fever ( in 1824)
5. After years of struggle , the treaty of Constantinople (1832 ) of cially recognized Greece
as an independent nation , and Ottoman Empire is not going to control it
The romantic imagination and national feeling
● artist and poets believed that culture plays a crucial role in creating idea of a nation
● Romanticism means a cultural movement that focused on emotions, intution and feelings
rather than reason. Emphasized folk traditions , languages and customs as a source of
national identity
● Folk songs , dances and tales were seen as expression of the true spirit of the people
● Collecting and recording folk culture became important to preserve national identity
● johann gottfried herder
1. a German thinker who said that German culture was best expressed through common
people (das volk)
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2. He emphasised the importance of folk songs and languages to bring unity
● Poland-language as resistance
1. after Poland lost its independence , the use of polish language became a form of national
resistance
2. Polish was used in churches and schools even when Russia was imposed
● visual arts (painting) also inspired nationalist feeling
● Artist depicted the nation as a personi ed gure( like Marianne in France and Germania
in Germany )
Hungar , hardship and popular revolt
● Economic problem
1. Europe faced widespread hunger and poverty in the 1830s and 1840
2. Population was growing fast , but jobs were limited
3. There were massive unemployment , especially in towns
4. Food shortage and bad harvest caused high price of famine
5. the most severe food shortage happened in 1848 , caused by a poor potato harvest In
Ireland ( called the great famine)
● hardship faced by peasants and workers
1. peasants suffere due to high taxes and low incomes
2. Workers in town had low wages and no job security
3. High bread prices and low wages made life miserable for poor
4. Handicraft workers , like weavers , were the most affected
5. The rise of machine - made goods led to loss of jobs for small artisans and home based
workers
● Louis Philippe ed to France because protest was started on the streets of Paris .
Demanding more political rights and better working conditions and job opportunities .
barricades were set up , and violent clashes broke out
● He lost the supppot , the revolution became to strong , and people no longer accepted
monarchy
● As a new republic government was formed . It gave voting rights to all adults men above
21 and promised jobs
● The government created “national workshops”(government runned job centres) to give
work to the unemployed
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● the Silesian weavers uprising (1845)
1. it took place in Silesia , a province of Prussia (now part of Poland)
2. few became jobless and extremely poor
3. their live was destroyed by Cheap machine made cloth
4. the weavers were exploited by the contractors who gave them very low wages
5. When they asked for help, they were ignored and insulted
6. In 1845, they protested violently , against their contractors
7. they entered the homes of contractors ,demanding higher wages if he refused then they
broke furniture and looted food
8. The army was sent, and 11 weavers were killed
9. This event shows the anger of workers and the inequality in society
The revolution of the liberals1848
● educated middle-class liberals (teachers, professional, lawyer, writer) leaded this
revolution
● They wanted nation states and constitution
● Revolt started in Germany , Italy , Poland and Austrian empire (mainly in central amd
Eastern Europe )
● They demanded
1. constitutional government and parliaments
2. freedom of the press ,
3. freedom of association
4. End to monarchies and absolute rule
5. National uni cation of their divided regions
● Frankfurt parliament (Germany )
1. in may 1848 , 831 elected all liberals held an all-German National Assembly in Frankfurt
2. They met at the church of st.paul in Frankfurt
3. Drafted a constitution for a uni ed Germany
4. Offered the crown to king of Prussia , who rejected it
● what happened next?
1. military and aristocracy crushed the revolt
2. The Frankfurt parliament failed
3. Monarch re establishes control
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● role of women’s
1. women participated in the movement in large numbers
2. Formed political associations, newspapers, and took part in political meetings
3. But were denied suffrage (right to vote)
4. the Frankfurt parliament did not include women delegates
5. Women demanded equal political rights , but were ignored
● in 1848, many liberal and nationalist revolts broke out in Europe
● Conservative monarchs (kind /emperors) managed to suppress these revolts
● although revolts were crushed , the old system of monarchy and privileges could not be
fully bought back
● They saw the only way to avoid future revolution was by making some changes and
giving concessions .
● These were similar to changes made in western europe( like France , Britain) before 1815
● serfdom ( a system where peasants were tied to the land and controlled by landlords )
and bonded labour were abolished :
1. in the Habsburg empire (austria - Hungary)
2. In Russia (under the tsar)
● in 1867, the Habsburg rulers (Austria ) gave more self rule (autonomy ) to Hungary
● This led to the formation of Hungarian empire (dual monarchy )
The making of Germany and Italy
Germany- can the army be the architect of the nation?
● after 1848, nationalism was used by kings and rulers to increase their power
● Earlier, nationalism was linked with freedom and revolution , now it was used for
controlling people
● in 1848 , middle class people in Germany wanted to unite all German states with a
parliament
● But this liberal attempt failed because of opposition from monarchy , military ,and junkers
(rich landowners of Prussia )
● After 1848, Prussia took leadership in German uni cation
● Otto von bisnarck , the chief minister of Prussia , was the Main leader of this process
● Bismarck used the army and bureaucracy to to lead unify
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● bismarck fought 3 wars in 7 years to unify Germany ; war with Denmark , war with
Austria , and war with France , all victories for Prussia helped bring German stated
together
● In January 1871, after winning the war against France:
1. Prussian King William I was proclaimed German Emperor (Kaiser).
2. Ceremony was held on 18 January 1871 at the Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles
(France).
3. Attended by:German princes , Army of cials,Prussian ministers and Otto von Bismarck
● The new German Empire was formed under Prussian dominance.
● The new state focused on:Modernizing currency ,Reforming banking system and
Improving legal and judicial systems
● Prussian systems became models for all of Germany.
Italy uni ed
● Italy before uni cation
1. Italy was divided into seven states.
2. Austria controlled the northern regions (like Lombardy and Venetia).
3. Papal States (central Italy) were ruled by the Pope.
4. Southern Italy (Sicily and Naples) was ruled by the Bourbon kings.
5. Only Sardinia-Piedmont was ruled by an Italian princely house (Victor Emmanuel II).
● rise of nationalism in Italy
1. Inspired by the French Revolution and Napoleon.
2. Spread by secret societies like Carbonari and Young Italy.
3. People wanted a uni ed Italy – free from foreign control and monarchy
● Giuseppe Mazzini – The Ideologist:
1. in 1830s , Mazzini created a program for a uni es Italian republic
2. He forem the secret society ‘young Italy’ to spread his ideas
3. His revolutionary attempts in 1831 and 1848 failed
● role of count Sardinia piedmont
1. after failed uprising the task of uni cation went to Sardinia piedmont
2. It was led by king victor Emmanuel
3. Uni cation was achieved through wars
4. Elites of Sardinia piedmont saw uni cation as economic development and political
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Dominance in the Italian peninsula
Cheif minister Cavour
1. Cavour led the political and diplomatic efforts of uni cation.
2. He was not a revolutionary or democrat, but a pragmatic statesman.
3. Belonged to the educated, elite class of Italy.
4. Spoke French better than Italian, re ecting the in uence of foreign rule and culture.
5. Cavour used tactful diplomacy to form an alliance with France.
6. As a result, Sardinia-Piedmont defeated Austria in 1859, gaining control over northern
Italy.
Giuseppe Garibaldi’s Contribution:
1. Garibaldi was a revolutionary leader who led armed volunteers.
2. In 1860, he and his troops captured South Italy and the Kingdom of Two Sicilies.
3. He gained support from local peasants to drive out the Spanish rulers.
● In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was declared the King of uni ed Italy
● Most of the Italian population was unaware of nationalism due to high illiteracy.
● Southern peasants supported Garibaldi without fully understanding the idea of a nation.
● Many peasants mistakenly thought ‘Italia’ (Italy) was Victor Emmanuel’s wife – a
humorous yet telling example of how nationalist ideas hadn’t deeply reached the masses.
Strange case of Britain
● British uni cation was not the result of a sudden revolution.
● It was a long-drawn-out process over several centuries.
● No British Nation Before 18th Century:
1. People in the British Isles primarily identi ed as English, Welsh, Scots, or Irish.
2. These groups had separate political systems, languages, traditions, and cultures.
● dominance of England
1. England grew stronger economically and politically
2. The English Parliament, especially after 1688 (Glorious Revolution),
3. It became the central force for forming a British nation state
● act of union (1707)
1. Merged England and Scotland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain
2. England imposed its political dominance over Scotland.
3. The British Parliament was mostly controlled by English member

1.
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 ● Suppression of Scottish Identity:
1. Scottish culture and political institutions were systematically suppressed
2. The Scottish Highlands faced severe repression:
The Gaelic language was banned. , military repression
Wearing of traditional Highland dress was forbidden., mass eviction from ancestral land
3. Large numbers of Highlanders were forcibly evicted from their homeland.
● Ireland’s Fate:
1. Ireland had a deep religious divide between Catholics(suppressed) and Protestants.
2. The English supported the Protestants, helping them dominate over the Catholic majority.
3. After the failed 1798 revolt by Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen,
4. Ireland was forcibly incorporated into the United Kingdom in 1801..
5. catholic population faced discrimination and lack of rights
● Creation of British National Identity:
1. A new British identity was formed based on English culture.
2. Symbols of the British nation were promoted:
The Union Jack (British ag)
The National Anthem (“God Save Our Noble King”)
The English language
3. Other nations (Scotland, Ireland, Wales) were reduced to subordinate partners in this
union.
Visualising the nation
● Giving a Face to the Nation:
1. Representing rulers with portraits or statues is easy, but giving a face to a nation is more
abstract.
2. Artists in the 18th and 19th centuries solved this by personifying nations as female
gures.
3. These female forms were allegorical – they did not represent real women, but symbolized
the nation itself
Why a Female Figure?
1. The female gure didn’t stand for any real woman.
2. She was used as an allegory – a symbolic person to represent values, ideals, or the
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nation itself.
3. These gures helped create a sense of belonging and unity among people.

● Female Allegories in the French Revolution

1. During the French Revolution, many abstract ideas were shown as women:
2. Liberty:
Shown with a red cap, which stood for freedom.
Also shown with a broken chain, representing the end of slavery or oppression
3. Justice:
Shown as a blindfolded woman.
Holding a weighing scale to show fairness.
● Marianne – The Symbol of France
1. The female gure representing France was named Marianne.
2. The name was common and simple, showing she belonged to the ordinary people.
3. Her features were based on Liberty and the Republic:
Red cap of liberty
Tricolour (blue, white, red – French ag)
Cockade (a ribbon badge)
● Where was Marianne shown?
1. Her statues were placed in public squares.
2. Her images were printed on coins and postage stamps.
3. She was used to remind people of national unity and patriotism.
● Germania – The Symbol of Germany
1. The female gure representing Germany was called Germania.
2. She symbolized strength, unity, and heroism.
3. How Germania was shown:
Wearing a crown of oak leaves:
The oak tree is a German national symbol of bravery.
Appeared in paintings, posters, and statues.
● Why Were These Allegories Important?
These female gures helped people:
1. Visualize the abstract idea of a nation.
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2. Feel a sense of unity, even if they spoke different languages or lived in different areas.
3 . They became symbols of national identity and helped in spreading nationalist feelings.
Nationalism and imperialism
● Shift in Nationalism’s Meaning by Late 19th Century
1. In the rst half of the 19th century, nationalism had liberal and democratic ideals
(freedom, unity, equality).
2. By the end of the century, nationalism became narrow-minded, aggressive, and intolerant.
3. Nationalist groups were ready to go to war with each other.
4. European powers used nationalism to manipulate other nations and serve their imperialist
goals.
● The Balkan Region: A Hotspot of Nationalism and Con ict
1. The Balkans included many modern countries like Romania, Greece, Serbia, Croatia,
Bulgaria, etc.
2. The people of the Balkans were mostly Slavs (same ethnic group).
3. The region was under the Ottoman Empire.
● Rise of Nationalism in the Balkans
1. The Ottoman Empire was getting weaker in the 19th century.
2. Inspired by romantic nationalism, Balkan states started demanding independence.
3. They believed they were once independent and now wanted to regain their freedom.
4. They used history and cultural identity to support their claims.
5. Many Balkan states broke away from Ottoman control and became independent.
● Intense Rivalry Among Balkan States
1. The newly independent Balkan states were jealous of each other.
2. Each one wanted to gain more territory.
3. This led to con icts among themselves.
● Big European Powers Intervene
1. The Balkans also attracted big powers like Russia, Germany, England, Austria-Hungary.
2. They all wanted in uence in the region.
3. There was a power struggle between these nations over the Balkans.
4. This rivalry increased tensions and led to a series of wars.
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● Beginning of World War I
1. The con icts in the Balkans, mixed with imperialist rivalries, eventually led to the outbreak
of World War I in 1914.
2. Nationalism, when combined with imperialism, became dangerous and brought disaster.
● Anti-Imperial Nationalism in Colonised Countries
1. Countries in Asia and Africa, which were colonised by European powers, started opposing
imperialism.
2. These anti-colonial movements were nationalist too.
3. They aimed to form independent nation-states.
4. These movements developed their own type of nationalism, not the same as Europe’s.
5. Still, the idea of a nation-state became popular all over the world.
Chapter 1 : Rise of Nationalism in Europe
▪ 1707 : The act of union between England and Scotland
▪ 1789 : The French Revolution
▪ 1807 : The birth of Giuseppe Muzzini.
▪ 1815 : To draft a compromise for Europe, the representatives of the European nations—
including Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria—who had defeated Napoleon together
convened in Vienna.
▪ 1815 : Napoleon was overthrown.
▪ 1815 : Vienna Protocol
▪ 1821 : The struggle for Greek freedom began.
▪ 1824 : Lord Byron, an English poet, died in 1824.
▪ 1830 : In July 1830, there was the rst uprising in France.
▪ 1832 : Treaty of Constantinople
▪ 1833 : When Emergent travelled from Hamburg to Nuremberg in 1833 to sell his goods,
he had to go through 11 customs checkpoints and pay a customs tax that was about 5% of
his travel cost.
▪ 1834 : A Zollverein customs union was established.
▪ 1848 : A French painter by the name of Frederic Sorrier produced a quartet (4) of works in
1848 that depicted his vision of a world with democratic and socialist republics..
▪ 1848 : The authoritarian kingdoms of Central and Eastern Europe introduced changes
after
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1848 that had previously occurred in western Europe before 1815.
▪ 1859 : Piedmont and Sardinia were successful in defeating the Austrian army.
▪ 1861 : Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed the king of United Italy.
▪ 1867 : The Habsburg rulers granted more autonomy to the Hungarian
▪ 1871 : The Prussian was proclaimed German emperor