How did nationalism and the nationalist spirit play an important role in the shaping of the Renaissance? [British Poetry (2018-19) Assignment 1]

During the Renaissance period, nationalism and the nationalist spirit played a significant role in shaping the cultural, political, and social identity of various European countries. The term nationalism refers to the idea of common bonds that bring people together within a nation, creating a new type of community. This idea was tied to the notion that individuals' loyalty should be focused on the nation, and each nation should be able to determine its own future, an idea known as self-determination.

From the end of the 18th century, the nationalization of education and public life went hand in hand with the nationalization of states and political loyalties. Poets and scholars began to emphasize cultural nationalism first. They reformed the mother tongue, elevated it to the rank of a literary language, and delved deep into the national past. This focus on the cultural identity of a nation led to the emergence of unique artistic, literary, and musical traditions.

Nationalism enflamed passions all across Europe in the 1800s. The German-speaking kingdom of Prussia and its minister, Otto von Bismarck, used these passions to build a German nation-state. The ideal for South Africa among members of the African nationalist movement was a multiracial, democratic society, the broadest and most inclusive kind of nationalism.

Nationalism was a prominent force in early 20th-century Europe and a significant cause of World War I. Nationalists exaggerate the importance or virtues of their home country, placing its interests above those of other nations. The nationalist spirit that emerged during the Renaissance helped create a sense of unity among different regions and paved the way for the formation of modern nation-states in Europe.