The rise of the nation‐state during the Age of Revolution: Revisiting the debate on the roots of nations and nationalism

Recent historical studies tend to confirm the antimodernist interpretation, emphasizing strong premodern roots of nations and nationalism. However, a broad comparative analysis rise nation-state during Age Revolution shows that earlier notions nationhood did not have significant role in creation nation-states Europe Americas. They were consequence glorious national revolt, but clash between Old Regime new ideals political legitimacy. Many these conflicts led civil wars survival was mostly determined by geopolitical constellation. The boundaries nation defined terms civilization, whereas language culture largely irrelevant. Within nation-states, universalist nationalization process began. In many instances, citizenship awarded easier foreigners than “uncivilized” inhabitants, while Classical Antiquity preferred over past.