Final answer:
The emergence of nation-states in Europe took place during the Early Modern Era, from the 15th to the 19th century, as monarchs consolidated power and established more centralized states, influenced by the printing press and changes in governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formation of European Nation-States
The concept of nation-states in Europe began to take form primarily during the Early Modern Era, which was after the fall of the Roman Empire and by the close of the Middle Ages. During the 15th to 19th centuries, monarchs across Europe, like those in England and France, worked to consolidate power over their territories, giving rise to the concept of nation-states. This consolidation was part of a broader shift from a patchwork of small fiefdoms and territories to larger, more centralized states that could exert greater control over their subjects and their borders.
The process was influenced by many factors, including the decline in agricultural productivity, famines, diseases, external warfare over trade, and peasant rebellions against the nobility. The printing press also played a vital role in spreading ideas that contributed to the formation of a shared sense of nationality. Monarchs began to assert their power, some through the concept of divine right and absolutism, while in other areas power was distributed more constitutionally between rulers and their subjects, as seen in the development of bodies like Britain’s House of Commons.
By the end of this transformative period, the political landscape of Europe had changed significantly. What started as around 500 states and principalities around 1500, ended up as approximately 30 nations by the 1800s. These newly formed nation-states were often characterized by a central government and a shared sense of identity based on language, culture, and territory.