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What Role Did Nationalism Play In The Evolution Of Eastern Europe

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Nationalism and its varying forms played a major role in the evolution of Eastern Europe, as it transitioned from Ottoman rule to autonomy. As time progressed, nationalism evolved to take on various roles. These roles included providing a nationality to rally under against the Ottoman Empire, encouraging internal control and self-governing, and once again providing national identities. In Eastern Europe from 1750 to the present era, Nationalism has taken on forms varying from independence struggles to justifying anti-intervention groups, to once again fueling independence, though the ethnic chafing in the area remained constant. In the late 18th century, Eastern Europe was still under Ottoman control, though the once-giant’s grip was loosening on the region. Many of the Balkans, Serbia especially, held onto a national identity through the church. In 1804 through 1813 and in 1815 Serbia rebelled against the Ottomans and gained independence. This created a surge of nationalism throughout the Balkans, and in 1912, after forming the Balkan League; the Ottoman Empire was forced out of Europe. At this point, the now-free nations established state religions based on the Eastern Orthodox, displacing the Muslim minority. Nationalism created a rallying point for the …show more content…

These groups resented the influence of stronger European Groups, and believed that they were fit to govern themselves. One of these groups, the Black Hand, took it upon themselves to assassinate Austro-Hungarian Archduke Ferdinand. This triggered a chain of events which started World War 1. Nationalism now served less to provide a view of a country, and more to motivate extremists against European benefactors, despite the change in targets, radical nationalists still fought larger countries in the name of their own, taking radical measures towards their own idea of

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