The national identities of European states in the periods between 1500 and 1800 arose, mainly from the ability to defend their territory and the ability to conquer territory, in a nutshell, this identity arose, primarily, from the power of a state that allowed people to people were proud and identified with a particular culture, language and people.
In summary, we can affirm that the conflicts between villages, the wars between the states, the Napoleonic wars and even the colonialism, built the national identities, because they showed the power of defense and conquest of the states, bringing pride to the no or a feeling that your land should be avenged.