Reflections on national history : the case of 19th century Europe

o caso da Europa no século XIX

Abstract

In the 19th century, writing national history became an irreplaceable part of European nation formation. To have “its own” history was a basic condition for being accepted as a nation, not only at international level, but, above all inwards. As part of national mobilization, it tried to reinforce identification with the nation; legitimized national existence and provided to its members some kind of immortality; served as basis for creating or strengthening national values. National history could not proceed from the same model to all European nations; it was constructed according to different situations, corresponding to possibilities to “nationalize” the past.