Finnishlunikoff

I have been wondering this phenomenon lately. Before the enlightment age there was not any talk about nations and citizens, there was only usually the king and inhabitants, who paid taxes for him. Belonging to this community had usually little to do with common historical heritage of the nation, common language of the nation and so on. But during the enlightment and 19th century nationalism was gained strength, and I am wondering which ideological developments or social phenomena gained it?

Toltec

I believe the early Republic, Greece and Rome weren't based upon king and inhabitants, but citizenship.

gaius valerius

Yes. Nationalism as we know it might rigtheously be labeled a "19th-century invention" (or late 18th for that matter), but it was not something entirely new. National ethos was something that can be dated to the beginning of civilisation, the basic "us-vs-them". It's role varied through time and wasn't always as important as it would be. The Greeks who certainly had a national ethos would many would hardly agree with the adagio of one country one people, they were just as keen to throw around the Greek-vs-barbarian (outsider) slur as to quickly turn and prey upon fellow Greeks. The Chinese from early on also had a keen sense of us-vs-them, as in pure Chinese versus all the lesser outsiders and that feeling played up from time to time in the internal politics. The medieval period in Europe saw the rise of xenophobia and the foundation of everlasting jokes such as the enmity between France and England as did the modern period witness the same with for example Germany and France, where the destructive imperialism of Louis XIV (sacking and utterly destroying Heidelberg (iirc) for one) was good to create an anti-French atmosphere that was fed to children in nursery-rhymes for decades, ensuring that the French troops that fought in Germany during the wars with Prussia were hailed as the vicious beast they were portrayed. Ireland is another fine example of the power of nationalism. The examples are many though nationalism never was the prime mover though a tool used when it was seen fit (for example when things looked grim), with the 19th century and Romanticism the phenomenon got a whole lot more volatile.

Belloc

You find elements of nationalism as we know it today from at least the late Medieval period(think Joan of Arc as one example).

DreamWeaver

Nationalsim, in one form or another has always been present in the history of man kind, the love of ones own countr/people/culture which distinguishes you from them. It is not a new invention or a a new idea. The Nationalism, the way we view it and understand it presently, is ofcourse an invention of the 19th Century.

Black Dog

But the OP is right that local loyalties (such as a man at arms to his lord) were stronger than notions of nationality, especially since we all know that even in England, there are very strong and very old rivalries within the regions, and this even descends to town against town, village against village. It's the same in Wales, too- I think it must be everywhere.

I think the nationalism thing was more a case of "if my Lord wants to fight the French or whoever, I'll follow him". This explains how people like Simon de Montfort had support- or Owain Glyndwr or just about any other "rebel".

Certainly, at local level, one's lord had greater power over you.

Qymaen

Probaably due to the Enlightenment's emphasis on the human mind, human reason, and general Humanism. Also the Enlightenment continually pushed religion into a less important role and focused more on the ability of humans to accomplish things without divine intervention.

gaius valerius

On the other hand although Enlightenment may have promulgated the ideal of brotherhood and equality, it was Romanticism - which was quite positive towards divine intervention or at least religious fervour - in promoting nationalism. Not just good Frenchmen, but good catholic Frenchmen so to say or at least France supported by god.

Belloc

That's true at least in regards to Chateaubriand and a few other French Restorationists, but I doubt you find this theme within French Republican nationalism.

Finnishlunikoff

Im still wondering, that what kind of impact the enlightenment age exactly had on nationalism.