Nationalism: background and the big picture.

Nationalism is commonly defined as a love for one's country. Historically, however, nationalism takes on a far greater meaning. Throughout history, large groups of people who share a cultural identity (language, customs, history) have felt the pulling power of nationalistic feeling. The spirit of nationalism also includes the belief that one's nation is better off as an autonomous state. Autonomy is defined as a nation governing itself independently from a centralized point. Still another aspect …

…Therefore, the tide of nationalism has been washing through history for roughly 500 years, making direct correlations between yesterday and today. This site is designed to aid students in reviewing the impact of nationalism throughout human history. This site should be used in preparation for the New York State Regents Exam in Global History and Geography. In addition, students may test their knowledge of the material presented here by accessing multiple-choice questions from past Regents Exams.