Welcome to Edumaterial Scholar! This blog post covers Class 10 History Chapter 1 – Rise of Nationalism in Europe with comprehensive, line-by-line notes based on the latest NCERT textbook. Whether you're preparing for your exams or doing a quick last-minute revision, these concise and well-structured notes will help you grasp key concepts easily. Designed for clarity and speed, this resource ensures you're fully prepared and confident for your Social Science exam.
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Also Read: Top 30 Most Important MCQs on Nationalism in Europe – Class 10 History | CBSE 2025
Also Read: Rise of Nationalism in Europe: Complete Timeline for Class 10 CBSE
The Dream of Worldwide Democratic and Social Republics – The Pact Between Nations
- In 1848, Frédéric Sorrieu, a French artist, prepared a series of four prints visualising his dream of a world made up of ‘democratic and social Republics’.
- The first print shows the peoples of Europe and America – men and women of all ages and social classes – marching in a long train, and offering homage to the Statue of Liberty.
- Liberty is personified as a female figure – holding the torch of Enlightenment in one hand and the Charter of the Rights of Man in the other.
- On the ground lie the shattered remains of the symbols of absolutist institutions.
- Peoples of the world are grouped as distinct nations, identified through their flags and national costume.
- United States and Switzerland lead the procession, followed by France with the revolutionary tricolour.
- Germany follows, bearing the black, red and gold flag, symbolising liberal hopes of unification under a democratic constitution.
- They are followed by Austria, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Lombardy, Poland, England, Ireland, Hungary and Russia.
- From the heavens above, Christ, saints and angels gaze upon the scene, symbolising fraternity among the nations of the world.
The French Revolution and the Idea of Nation[Important]
French Revolutionaries introduced the following
practices to create a sense of collective identity amongst the French citizens:-
- New tricolour flag
replaced the old royal flag used by French monarchy.
- Establishment of a centralised administrative system with uniform laws for all citizens.
- New hymns
were composed and oaths were taken.
- Martyrs were remembered in the name of the nation.
- Estate general
elected by the body of citizens was renamed
to National Assembly.
- Uniform system of weights and measurements were adopted.
- Ideas of la patrie and le citoyen of a united community with equal rights under a constitution was promoted.
Napoleonic Code[Important]
 |
| Napoleon Bonaparte |
Key points to remember
In 1804, Napoleon introduced Napoleonic code(Also known as Civil Code of 1804).
Features of
Napoleonic Code
- It removed all privileges by birth.
- Established equality before law.
- Secured the Right to Property.
- Simplified administrative systems
in Dutch republic, Switzerland, Italy and Germany.
- Abolished the Feudal System.
- Abolished guild restrictions
in the town areas.
- Freed peasants
from serfdom and manorial dues.
- Transport and Communication systems were improved.
- Established uniform laws, standardized weights and measures and common national currency which facilitated the movement of goods from one place to another.
Negative
Effects of Napoleonic Code
- High taxation on peasants.
- Forced recruitment of people in the army.
- Limited political freedom.
- Increased censorship.
The ideology of Liberalism(Latin Word: Liber, Meaning: Free)
Political
aspects
- Demanded a government elected by the people.
- All adult citizens who are able to pay taxes should have the right to vote (They were against the voting rights for women and poor men).
- Were against the monarchy rule and ending all clerical privileges.
- They supported the parliamentary form of governance.
Economic
aspects
- Freedom of markets
- Abolition of state imposed restrictions on the movement of goods.
- Demanded for a uniform weights and measurement systems.
In
1834, a Customs Union or Zollverein was formed which abolished tariff barriers
and reduced the numbers of currencies from over thirty to two.
Treaty of Vienna [Important]
- Representatives of Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria met in Vienna after defeating Napoleon.
- Hosted by Austrian Chancellor Duke Metternich.
- Objective: Undo changes brought by the Napoleonic Wars.
Features of this Treaty
- Bourbon dynasty restored in France.
- Monarchies overthrown by Napoleon were restored.
- France lost its territories annexed during the leadership of Napoleon.
- Buffer states created to prevent French expansion:
- Kingdom of the Netherlands
(including Belgium) in the north.
- Genoa added to Piedmont in the south.
- Territorial rewards:
- Prussia gained new western
territories.
- Austria got control over northern
Italy.
- Russia received part of Poland.
- Prussia gained part of Saxony.
- German Confederation (39 states) created by Napoleon was left
untouched.
Conservative Order and Censorship
- A new conservative order was established.
- Autocratic regimes suppressed criticism and dissent.
- Strict censorship laws imposed on newspapers, books, plays, and songs.
- Despite repression, French Revolution ideals continued to inspire liberals.
- Freedom of the press became a major demand of liberal-nationalists.
The Aristocracy and the new middle class
- The aristocracy was a dominant class in Europe.
- Owned estates and townhouses.
- They spoke French.
- They were connected by marriage.
- However, they were a small group.
- The majority of the population consisted of peasantry.
Industrialization led to:
- Growth of towns and commercial classes.
- Emergence of a working-class population.
- Rise of middle classes, including industrialists, businessmen, and professionals.
- In Central and Eastern Europe, these groups remained smaller until the late 19th century.
The Age of Revolutions
July Revolution (France, 1830)
- Bourbon monarchy overthrown by liberal revolutionaries.
- Louis Philippe installed as constitutional monarch.
- Metternich’s quote: "When France sneezes, Europe catches cold."
- Impact: Inspired uprising in Brussels, leading to Belgium’s independence from the Netherlands.
Greek Struggle for Independence
- Ottoman Empire captured Greece in the mid-fourteenth century.
- In 1821, Greeks fought for their independence. Many people supported their cause.
- Lord Byron (English poet) funded and fought in the war; died in 1824.
- In 1832, with the Treaty of Constantinople Greece attained its independence and became a country.
Romanticism [Important]
- Romanticism is a cultural movement which sought to develop a particular form of nationalist sentiment.
- Romantic artists and poets generally criticised the glorification of reason and science and focused instead on emotions, intuition and mystical feelings.
- Their effort was to create a sense of a shared collective heritage, a common cultural past, as the basis of a nation.
- The German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder claimed that true German culture was to be discovered among the common people – das volk.
- It was through folk songs, folk poetry and folk dances that the true spirit of the nation (volksgeist) was popularised.
The Massacre at Chios, Eugene Delacroix, 1824
CASE OF POLAND
- Partition of Poland:
In the 18th century, Russia, Prussia, and Austria divided Poland,
ending its independence.
Also Read: Top 30 Most Important MCQs on Nationalism in Europe – Class 10 History | CBSE 2025
Role of Music:
- Karol Kurpinski promoted nationalism through operas and music.
- Folk dances like polonaise and mazurka became nationalist symbols.
- Impact of Russian Occupation:
- Polish language banned in schools, Russian imposed everywhere.
- 1831 Rebellion against Russian rule was crushed.
Role of the Church:
- The Clergy resisted by using Polish in Church gatherings and religious instruction.
- Russian authorities punished priests and bishops by jailing or exiling them to Siberia.
- Using Polish became a symbol of struggle against Russian dominance.
Economic Hardship in 1830s Europe
- Sharp population growth led to job scarcity.
- Rural to urban migration caused overcrowded slums.
- Small producers faced competition from cheap English machine-made goods.
- Textile production was partly mechanised and home-based.
- Peasants suffered under feudal dues in aristocratic regions.
- Food price rise or bad harvests caused mass poverty.
Liberal Revolutions of 1848 [ Frankfurt Parliament]
The Frankfurt Parliament was the first freely elected all-German national assembly, formed in May 1848 during the liberal revolutions across Europe.
- Where: Convened in the Church of St. Paul, Frankfurt.
- Who: Composed of 831 elected representatives, mainly from the middle class – professionals, businessmen, and artisans.
- Aim: To draft a constitution for a unified German nation based on liberal and constitutional principles.
Key Proposals:
- A constitutional monarchy
- A parliamentary system
- Fundamental rights, including freedom of press and association
However:
- The crown was offered to King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia, who rejected it, unwilling to accept a crown from the people.
- The parliament lacked support from workers and faced opposition from the monarchy and military.
- It eventually failed and was disbanded by force.
Revolutions of 1848[Events in France]
- Paris uprising due to food shortage & unemployment.
- Louis Philippe fled; barricades were erected.
- Republic proclaimed by National Assembly.
- Suffrage to all adult males (21+) was granted
- Right to work guaranteed
- National workshops set up for employment
Women in Liberal Revolutions
- Women actively participated in liberal movements during the 1848 revolutions.
- They formed political associations, started newspapers, and took part in rallies and meetings.
- Despite their involvement, they were denied voting rights and excluded from formal political processes.
- In the Frankfurt Parliament, women were only allowed as observers in the visitors' gallery.
- The demand for women’s political rights remained unfulfilled.
Aftermath of 1848 Revolutions
- Though liberal revolutions were suppressed, monarchs couldn’t fully restore the old order.
- Rulers began to realise the need for liberal reforms to avoid repeated unrest.
Concessions granted:
- Serfdom and bonded labour abolished in the Habsburg Empire and Russia.
- In 1867, Hungarians were granted autonomy within the Habsburg Empire.
The ideas of liberalism and nationalism continued to influence future movements across Europe.
A short note Giuseppe Mazzini [Important]
- Born in Genoa, in 1807.
- Former member of a secret society Carbonari.
- He was sent to exile after attempting a failed revolution in Liguria.
Founded two secret societies
- Young Italy -Marseilles
- Young Europe - Berne
- He believed the nations were intended by God to be natural units of humanity.
- Duke Metternich, Former Chancellor of Austria described him as "the most dangerous enemy of the social order."
Unification of Germany[Important]
- Germany was divided into 39 confederations by Napoleon Bonaparte.
- In 1834, a Customs Union or Zollverein was formed which abolished tariff barriers and reduced the numbers of currencies from over thirty to two. This unified the German estates Economically.
- Later, in 1848, the middle class tried to unite the different regions in the German confederation into a nation state governed by an elected parliament headed by the king.
- These efforts faced strong opposition from the monarchy, military and landowners(Junkers) in Prussia.
- Friderich Wilhelm IV of Prussia used the military and forcefully disbanded the assembly.
- After this failed attempt Otto Von Bismarck the chief minister of Prussia used the military and bureaucracy with an aim to achieve German Unification.
- Three battles
were fought over seven years with Austria, France and Denmark where Prussia emerged victorious.
- In January 1871, Kaiser William I, the King of Prussia, was declared the Emperor of Unified Germany in a ceremony held at the Palace of Versailles.
Unification of Italy
Background
- Italy was divided into seven states in the 19th century.
- North: Controlled by Austrian
Habsburgs
- Centre: Under Pope’s
rule
- South: Dominated by Spanish
Bourbon kings
- Only Sardinia-Piedmont was ruled by an Italian princely house.
- Italian language had regional variations, not yet unified.
Early
Efforts
- 1830s: Giuseppe Mazzini
launched a programme for a unified Italian
Republic.
- Founded the secret society Young Italy.
- Revolts in 1831
& 1848 failed, so leadership
passed to Sardinia-Piedmont under King Victor Emmanuel II.
Role
of Cavour
- Chief Minister
Cavour was a strategist, not a revolutionary.
- Engineered a diplomatic alliance with France.
- 1859: Sardinia-Piedmont defeated Austria with French help.
- 1860: Garibaldi led
volunteers to liberate South
Italy and the Kingdom of Two
Sicilies.
- Gained the support of local peasants, and removed Spanish rulers.
Timeline of Events
The Strange Case of Britain
Background
- Pre-18th century: No unified British nation. People identified as English, Welsh, Scots, or Irish, with separate cultural and political traditions.
- The idea of a British nation-state developed gradually over time, not through a single revolution or upheaval.
Role of England
- As England grew in wealth and power, it extended its influence over the other nations of the British Isles.
- English Parliament played a crucial role after 1688, when it seized power from the monarchy and began forming the British nation-state with England at the center.
Key Acts and Events
- 1707: Act of Union created the United Kingdom of Great Britain, uniting England and Scotland.
- England dominated the British Parliament, and Scottish culture and political institutions were suppressed.
- Scottish Gaelic language and traditional dress were banned, and Highland clans faced repression.
Capturing Ireland
- Ireland was divided between Catholics and Protestants, with Protestants supported by England.
- After the 1798 revolt led by Wolfe Tone's United Irishmen, Ireland was forcibly incorporated into the United Kingdom in 1801.
- A British identity was propagated through English culture, including the Union Jack, God Save the King, and the English language.
- Scotland and Ireland became subordinate partners within the British Union, with their cultures marginalized.
Visualising the Nation
The personification of Nations in Art
- In the 18th and 19th centuries, artists personified nations by representing them as female figures to give an abstract concept a concrete form.
- Female allegories were used to represent the nation rather than a specific
woman, becoming symbolic representations of the country.
- During the French Revolution, female allegories like Liberty, Justice, and the Republic were depicted using specific symbols:
- Liberty: Red cap, broken chains
- Justice: Blindfolded woman with weighing scales
- Marianne personified France.
- She symbolized a people's nation with characteristics like the red cap, tricolour, and cockade.
- Statues of Marianne were placed in public squares, and her image appeared on coins and stamps.
- Germania became the allegory of the German nation, often depicted wearing a crown of oak leaves, symbolizing heroism.
Nationalism and Imperialism
I. Nationalism in the Late 19th Century and the Balkans
- Nationalism turned from liberal-democratic ideals to narrow, aggressive ambitions.
- Nationalist groups became intolerant, often leading to conflict and war.
- Major powers exploited nationalism for imperialist goals.
- The Balkans became the most serious source of nationalist tension in Europe after 1871.
- Region comprised modern-day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro.
- Inhabitants broadly known as Slavs, most of the region was under the Ottoman Empire.
- Romantic nationalism and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire made the Balkans very explosive.
- Balkan nationalities used history to prove their past independence and viewed struggles as efforts to win back long-lost independence.
- Balkan states were fiercely jealous of each other, hoping to gain more territory.
- Rivalries among Balkan states and interference from European powers (Russia, Germany, England, Austro-Hungary) escalated tensions.
- This rivalry and territorial ambitions led to frequent wars and ultimately led to World War I.
II. Nationalism and Anti-Imperial Movements
Worldwide
- Nationalism, aligned with imperialism, led Europe to disaster in 1914.
- In the meantime, many countries colonised by European powers in the 19th century began to oppose imperial domination.
- These anti-imperial movements were nationalist, aiming to form independent nation-states.
- They were driven by a sense of collective national unity, forged in confrontation with imperialism.
- Though inspired by Europe, European ideas of nationalism were nowhere replicated.
- Societies developed their own specific variety of nationalism.
- The concept that societies should be organised into ‘nation-states’ became seen as natural and universal.
