2 2 Origins of the modern state

Summary

The video explores the historical evolution of the modern state, particularly in Europe. It examines how, over the past 500 years, the feudal system gave way to centralized sovereign states. Starting with fragmented political units, the shift was driven by warfare, technological advancements, and rising mercantilism. The Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 marked a key moment in recognizing sovereign states. The video also discusses Europe's colonial dominance and how nation-states became the preferred form of political organization globally, influenced by military, economic, and cultural factors.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The modern state's formation is a relatively recent development, with its roots in Europe over the past five centuries.
• 🏰 Feudalism characterized medieval Europe with a complex web of political relationships and overlapping claims to sovereignty.
• 🗺️ The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 marked a pivotal moment, establishing the principle of secular leaders as sovereign authorities within their territories.
• 🔝 The rise of the sovereign state was influenced by warfare, which favored larger entities capable of raising standing armies and building fortifications.
• 💵 The growth of capitalism and the merchant class contributed to the need for stable governance, which the emerging states could provide.
• 🏛️ The shift from collective to individualistic societal views supported the development of the nation-state concept.
• 🌐 The global spread of the sovereign state model was largely due to European colonization, which imposed this form of governance on conquered territories.
• 🛡️ Technological advancements and military innovations played a significant role in the ability of states to consolidate power and conquer others.
• 📈 The cycle of war and state development was self-reinforcing, with states needing war to justify their existence and war making states stronger.
• ❓ The reasons why Europe was the cradle of the modern state and its ability to dominate globally remain a subject of debate, with factors like climate, agriculture, and immunity to diseases being considered.

Q & A

What was the political landscape of Europe like around the year 1300?

Around the year 1300, Europe was characterized by a multitude of small political units and only a few larger entities. There were over 500 states or quasi-states, and the political map was complex due to the interrelated web of political relationships that made up the feudal system.

How did feudalism impact the political structure of medieval Europe?

Feudalism divided power and overlapped claims to sovereignty. It was a system where serfs worked the land under the orders of local leaders or vassals, who in turn were granted authority by a lord. This system led to a complex hierarchy with shifting alliances and allegiances, often in conflict over legitimacy claims to land.

What significant change occurred in the political structure of Europe around 1648?

In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia was signed, which marked a significant change by establishing the principle that secular leaders and non-religious authorities were the sovereign power in a given territory. This event is seen as the moment when the idea of the sovereign state became internationally recognized.

Why did the modern state form in Europe and not elsewhere?

The modern state formed in Europe due to a combination of factors including technological advancements in warfare, the rise of a capitalist merchant class, and the need for stability and protection for business growth. These factors favored the development of larger, more centralized states over smaller entities like city-states.

What role did warfare play in the development of the modern state in Europe?

Warfare was a significant factor in the development of the modern state in Europe. New military technologies and the need for standing armies favored larger states that could raise and maintain these forces. The cycle of war and state development led to the growth of bureaucracies for revenue collection and the expansion of state power.

How did the concept of the nation-state emerge after World War I?

After World War I, the concept of the nation-state emerged as the preferred unit of political authority. This was influenced by the desire for smaller, ethnically homogeneous states, which were seen as more stable and less prone to the nationalist tensions that had contributed to the war.

What was the impact of the Peace of Westphalia on the development of the modern state?

The Peace of Westphalia had a profound impact on the development of the modern state by internationally recognizing the sovereign state as the legitimate source of political authority. This principle laid the groundwork for the consolidation of larger political units and the decline of smaller entities.

Why did the European model of the sovereign state become the global standard?

The European model of the sovereign state became the global standard largely due to European colonization. As European powers established colonies around the world, they imposed the institution of the sovereign state. Upon gaining independence, these colonies often adopted the same political structure, thus spreading the model globally.

What is the 'Leviathan' mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to the state?

The 'Leviathan' refers to the concept of a powerful, centralized state as described by Thomas Hobbes. In the context of the script, it symbolizes the state's ability to organize, extract resources, and build sophisticated war machines, which played a role in Europe's ability to conquer and colonize much of the world.

What is Jared Diamond's explanation for Europe's ability to colonize and conquer large parts of the world?

Jared Diamond, in his book 'Guns, Germs, and Steel,' suggests that the inhabitants of Mesopotamia and Europe were fortunate due to a favorable climate, good crops, and access to animals for domestication. This allowed them to develop more food, technology, and commercial advancements, which in turn facilitated their ability to colonize and conquer other parts of the world.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Evolution of Political Authority in Europe

This paragraph introduces the historical development of the modern state in Europe, starting from the feudal system around 1300 with numerous small political units to the emergence of larger states by 1648. The feudal system was characterized by overlapping claims of sovereignty and a complex web of relationships between serfs, vassals, lords, and the Pope. The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 marked a significant shift towards recognizing the sovereign state as the legitimate source of political authority, leading to the formation of larger political entities. The paragraph also touches on the role of warfare, technology, and the rise of capitalism in shaping the modern state.

05:00

🔍 The Rise of the Modern State and Its Global Spread

The second paragraph delves into the reasons behind the formation of the modern state, with a focus on the role of warfare and military technology. It discusses how changes in warfare technology favored the rise of standing armies and the centralization of power in the hands of kings. The growing merchant class's demand for stability and protection also contributed to the strengthening of states. The paragraph further explains the transition from empires to nation-states after World War I, driven by the desire for national self-determination. It also addresses the global spread of the sovereign state model, largely due to European colonization and the imposition of statehood on colonies, which became independent as sovereign states upon decolonization.

10:03

🌏 Europe's Advantage and the Global Dominance of the State Model

The final paragraph explores why Europe was able to colonize and conquer much of the world, suggesting that Europe's advantageous climate, agriculture, and access to domesticatable animals contributed to its development of advanced societies and immune systems. It also mentions the state's efficiency in organizing, extracting resources, and building sophisticated military machines. The paragraph concludes with a reference to Jared Diamond's 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' as an interesting perspective on Europe's historical advantage and the global dominance of the state as a political institution.

Keywords

💡Modern State

The 'modern state' refers to a political entity with a centralized government that exercises a monopoly on the legitimate use of force within a certain territory. In the video, the evolution of the modern state is traced from the feudal system to the establishment of nation-states, illustrating how it became the dominant form of political organization globally. The script discusses how the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 was a pivotal moment in recognizing the sovereign state as the legitimate source of political authority.

💡Feudal System

The 'feudal system' was a social, political, and economic order of medieval Europe, characterized by the exchange of land for service and loyalty. The script describes how this system involved a complex web of political relationships where power was divided, and claims to sovereignty overlapped. It began to erode as entities that resembled modern states emerged, leading to the decline of the feudal system.

💡Peace of Westphalia

The 'Peace of Westphalia' refers to a series of peace treaties signed between May and October 1648, which ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. The script highlights that these treaties were significant as they established the principle of non-religious authorities as sovereign powers in a territory, marking a milestone in the recognition of the modern state.

💡Nation-State

A 'nation-state' is a country where the boundaries of the nation coincide with the boundaries of the state, implying a shared national identity among the citizens. The script explains that after World War I, the concept of the nation-state gained prominence, with national identity aligning with political borders. This was seen as a response to ethnic tensions within the old empires and was promoted by international actors, particularly the United States.

💡Warfare

In the context of the video, 'warfare' is discussed as a key factor in the development of the modern state. The script suggests that changes in military technology and the need for standing armies favored larger political entities like kingdoms, which could raise the necessary funds and resources for warfare. This led to the centralization of power and the growth of states at the expense of smaller feudal entities.

💡Capitalism

The script mentions the rise of 'capitalism' as a significant economic system that contributed to the development of the modern state. It facilitated the growth of a merchant class that sought stability and protection from centralized states to grow their businesses, thus providing a financial basis for state expansion and the establishment of bureaucracies.

💡Militarization

'Militarization' in the video refers to the process by which states invested in their military capabilities, including the development of advanced military technology and the maintenance of standing armies. The script explains that this was driven by the need for states to wage wars, which in turn required more revenue and further centralization of power.

💡Colonization

The term 'colonization' is used in the script to describe the process by which European powers established control over territories and peoples outside of Europe. The video suggests that the establishment of the sovereign state as a global phenomenon is largely due to European colonization, where the institution of the sovereign state was imposed on colonized regions.

💡Globalization

While not explicitly mentioned, 'globalization' is implied in the script's discussion of the spread of the sovereign state model worldwide. The video indicates that the modern state became the dominant form of political organization globally, partly due to European colonization and the subsequent decolonization process where former colonies were recognized as sovereign states.

💡Jared Diamond

Jared Diamond is an author and mentioned in the script in relation to his book 'Guns, Germs, and Steel.' The video references his argument that the development of advanced societies in Europe was partly due to geographical and environmental factors that favored agricultural development, technological innovation, and immune system advantages, which in turn contributed to Europe's ability to colonize and conquer other parts of the world.

Highlights

Introduction to the origin of modern states in Europe and the transition from feudal systems.

Feudalism involved overlapping claims to political authority, where power was divided among vassals, lords, kings, and the Pope.

The Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 marked a turning point in the recognition of secular political authority over religious control.

Between 1300 and 1648, larger political units consolidated power, replacing the smaller feudal entities.

Technological advancements such as the longbow and gunpowder shifted the balance of military power, favoring centralized states with standing armies.

Growing capitalist merchant classes supported larger, stable states, creating a feedback loop between economic and political power.

The modern state became the dominant form of political organization following centuries of warfare, empire-building, and revenue extraction.

The rise of nation-states after World War I and the collapse of empires like the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia continued to reshape political borders.

The sovereign state model spread globally, especially through European colonization, where it was imposed on colonies.

Jared Diamond’s 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' offers a theory that Europe's dominance was partly due to geographic and environmental advantages.

Living in proximity to domesticated animals helped Europeans develop immunity to diseases, giving them an advantage in colonizing other regions.

The sovereign state has become the primary political institution worldwide in the last 100-200 years.

Colonization played a critical role in spreading the European model of the sovereign state, as European powers withdrew and left colonies with this system.

Technological advances and the accumulation of wealth through capitalism contributed to Europe's ability to develop powerful states.

The modern state's success in organizing and financing war efforts helped Europe conquer large parts of the world.

Transcripts

hello as you just saw today we have a

number of tricky questions how did the

modern state come to be we know what

developed over the past five hundred

years or so in Europe but why now this

might seem like a dumb question but

that's only because we take for granted

that states are the dominant and

universally accepted form of political

organization in the world today but why

do we have States what ever happened to

the city state are that loosely gov

allied regions and why did the modern

state take form in Europe will work to

answer these questions by looking at the

evolution of political authority in

Europe but let's begin by describing the

changes that we hope to explain starting

with the beginning of the formation of

the modern state towards the end of the

medieval period and going right up until

today so here's a political map of

Europe circa 1300 one thing you will

probably notice is that there are tons

of little political units and only a few

larger entities that look something like

the States we'd see on a recent map by

some counts there were over 500 states

or quasi States at this period in Europe

moreover this map does not actually

portray the complicated political

arrangements of this era as the entities

we see here are not really unified

consolidated single states but are part

of the interrelated web of political

relationships making up the feudal

system feudalism was a system in which

power was divided and claims to

sovereignty overlapped considerably the

basic idea was that serfs worked the

land as ordered by local leaders or

vassals who were given their authority

by a lord who controlled a number of

vassals these vassals swore oaths of

fealty to their Lord thus giving the

vassal the right to rule over a

territory in exchange for political and

military loyalty to the Lord in turn

many lords gave their oath to the king

but they did not always and they could

and did switch sides often finally in

theory the Pope sat at the top of this

system as God's earthly representative

his hierarchy oversimplifies because

they were often competing claims to

Authority with vassals Lords kings and

Pope's shifting alliances and

allegiances constantly a major part of

this was overlapping legitimacy claims

to land birth rights and divine

legitimacy were all in conflict this

system began to erode however

and gradually entities that look much

more like the states we know and love

today emerged here we see a political

map of Europe about 350 years later in

1648 and these are the boundaries that

were codified in the piste of Westphalia

and what you can see is a lot of much

bigger political units bigger than you

actually see on a modern political map

with Europe and basically what's been

happening here is that the big fish have

been eating the little ones and the

Peace of Westphalia was really a

watermark moment at this time Europe had

been torn by war for decades with the

thirty years war raging between

Catholics and Protestants in the middle

of the continent and a war between Spain

and the Dutch that had gone on for 80

years was important for us to note is

that the signatures of the Treaty of

Westphalia established the principle

that secular leaders and non religious

authorities were ultimately the

sovereign power in a given territory of

course the sovereign state did not just

appear at this moment but it was the

moment at which the idea of the

sovereign state became internationally

recognized by Europe's leaders as the

legitimate source of political authority

following this recognition and the

advent of the age of absolutism Europe

entered a period in which empires

increasingly ruled as you can see in

this map of Europe at the turn of the

20th century in this era Europe was

ruled by a few really large empires and

indeed these same empires ruled much of

the world as the colonial powers that

all changed however following the

seismic shifts of two world wars and the

first half of the 20th century in the

wake of the first world war the

nation-state became the preferred unit

of political authority the nation-state

is a political entity where national

identity borders and political borders

are the same basically in a nation-state

all of the people in a nation are in the

same state and everybody in that state

is of the same nation this is a very

idealistic notion as there is great

diversity in Europe as there is in most

of the world still as the first world

war was seen by many as inspired by

ethno nationalists ik tensions within

the old empires many players within the

international

and particularly the United States

pushed for the creation of smaller

nation states this trend continued

following the end of the Cold War with

the dissolution of many multi-ethnic

states including the Soviet Union

Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia in the

Balkans so we now have a basic idea of

what happened the complicated jumble of

claims to legitimate sovereign political

authority during feudalism eventually

gave way to the sole claim of the modern

state we're still left with the question

of why this happened one prominent line

of research sees warfare as the cause of

the modern state in Europe these

accounts often begin with the change in

technology in the 14th century that

slowly gave an infantry over an

advantage overnight so basically new

technologies like the longbow were able

to penetrate knight's armor and that

meant that standing armies became the

best method of warfare there were lots

of other inventions that made sea power

more important and eventually of course

gunpowder came along and these

developments favorite Kings Kings were

more evil than the smaller feudal

vassals to raise large standing armies

and to build the big fortifications

necessary to defend against other

standing armies meanwhile a growing

capitalistic merchant class wanted

stability and protection to grow their

businesses thus they were willing to pay

for the Kings protection therefore kings

and their larger states were able to

edge other political organizations out

of the way basically by out funding and

not fighting them and therefore the

state developed bureaucracies to collect

these revenues more and more effectively

as they became better at extracting the

states became larger and they became a

little bit more ambitious and hence

here's the Age of Empires coming at you

States tried to build enormous empires

meaning that they made more and more war

think of a Napoleon's quest and all of

the monarchs of England and Spain and

the stars of Russia with their imperial

aspirations these frequent Wars required

more and more extraction

States invested heavily in their

militaries and they developed more and

more deadly military technology all this

is expensive and they need to attract

more and more revenue to fund more and

more expensive Wars Charles Chile

captures the dynamics of the cycle

rather simplistically but rather

profoundly when he notes that war made

states and states need war so that's one

broad explanation of course it's not the

only explanation there are other

independent variables that worked

alongside war making and new military

technologies to explain our dependent

variable year of the modern state the

increase of trade and the appearance and

growth of the merchant box dwelling in

towns created more wealth and they

demanded more stability as we mentioned

there was also a cultural shift from an

emphasis upon predetermined roles in

society ranging from serf to king to

pope to a conception of society that's

more rooted in in the individual the

emphasis on war military technology and

extraction of revenues does help us

explain what other forms of organization

such as the city state or the

confederation of league of territories

not emerges dominant the state was

basically able to out raise and out

conquer them this process has mainly

occurred in Europe over hundreds of

years but the modern state has become

the dominant form of political

organization all over the world but that

only happened really recently if you

look here you can see the difference

between 1900 and 2000 with the blue

being sovereign states and the great

being colonies you can see that the blue

is now as of 10 years or 12 years ago

taken over the world pretty much

and indeed this map understates the

difference if you think back on the fact

that a lot of are all of the Americas

were once European colonies as well you

can see that the sovereign state as a

global phenomenon is something that

happened over the last maybe 100 to 200

years and this probably happened because

of colonization basically Europeans

imposed the institution of the sovereign

state upon their colonies this is how

the sovereign state became the world's

darling

political institution and the Europeans

imposed it especially as they withdrew

when they left they would basically say

okay you are a sovereign state now you

are independent well this brings up the

interesting question as to why Europe

was able to colonize and conquer so much

of the world this is an interesting open

question of course the technological

advances development of capitalistic

societies that generated enormous wealth

that helps lead to the state those are

major reasons but why did those happen

in Europe and not some other place in

the world I'm just gonna give you a

little flavor of one interesting

explanation and that's from Jared

Diamond and his rather famous book Guns

Germs and Steel and his explanation is

that the inhabitants of Mesopotamia and

Europe were simply lucky they had a good

climate good crops and access to animals

that they could domesticate this gave

them more food making a healthier and

more able to have their leisure time

devoted to technological and commercial

development and plus living in close

proximity to their domesticated animals

strengthened their immune system and

made them immune to many of the terrible

viruses that killed off so many of the

native peoples in the continents that

they later colonized and enslave well

perhaps the brutal efficiency of the

state as Leviathan and its ability to

organize extract and to build larger and

larger and more sophisticated war

machines also played an important role

in the European powers ability to

conquer so much of the planet so on that

cheery note I bid you adieu

good luck