History
Social Origins of the Modern Nation-State and Nationalism
Quick fact
The nation-state is a relatively recent invention: before the 19th century, most people's loyalties were to local lords, religious authorities, or dynastic empires, not to an abstract 'nation'. The modern idea that each 'people' should have its own sovereign state only gained global momentum after the French Revolution and the age of nationalism.
Why this is interesting
You probably think of nations as ancient, natural entities—but most nation-states are surprisingly young. How did we come to feel so strongly about a community we'll never meet?