Exploros | The Rise of the Modern Nation-State

The Rise of the Modern Nation-State

Students begin by defining the terms nation, state, and nation-state. Then they learn about the emergence of nation-states and summarize their characteristics. Next they compare maps of Europe between the fifteenth and early twentieth centuries and analyze the impact of the development of nation-states on European history. Finally they formulate an opinion about whether the United States can be classified as a nation-state.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Overview

In this experience, students begin by defining the terms nation, state, and nation-state. Then they learn about the emergence of nation-states and summarize their characteristics. Next they compare maps of Europe between the fifteenth and early twentieth centuries and analyze the impact of the development of nation-states on European history. Finally they formulate an opinion about whether the United States can be classified as a nation-state.

Students will collaborate in small groups for scene 2 to scene 4.

Objectives

Define the characteristics of a nation-state.
Explain the evolution of the modern nation-state in Europe.

Nations. States. Countries. Republics. Empires. So many words that are related, but each has its own nuances in the political sense. In this lesson, you will focus on two of the terms: nation and state.

Objectives

Define the characteristics of a nation-state.
Explain the evolution of the modern nation-state in Europe.

a globe covered with flags of different countries

The ancient and medieval world had city-states that were governed through face-to-face relationships of people who often lived within the walls of the city. Human history has also seen many empires, which are usually an expansive territory encompassing numerous states and many nationalities united by political and military power, and a common currency. The language of an empire is often not the mother tongue of most of its inhabitants.

A modern nation-state generally falls between these two in terms of territory and size of population. But what is a nation-state?

Point out to students that the term nation-state is narrower than the term country, because a country may not have a single predominant ethnic group. For example, Canada is a country that is a sovereign state, but it is not a nation-state because it has a large French-speaking region, making it a multinational state.

A nation—in the sense of an ethnic group—may also include a large group of refugees or people who have emigrated to other areas. For example, there are now over one million Ukrainian refugees in neighboring Poland. There are also cases where a nation does not have a state. For example, the Kurds are located in a region that spreads across parts of Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, but the Kurds do not have their own state.

Divide students into their small groups for the next three scenes. When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.