Chapter 6 Summary and Analysis

While a few remote locations, uninhabited by man, still exist on the planet, every square inch of land on Earth "belongs" to some government. For the most part, the appropriation of territory on this planet is complete. Occasionally, borders will change, as such as Germany following World War II and the more recent dismantling of the Soviet Union. The period from about 1650-1850 is the heyday for colonialism and the world experiences three simultaneous revolutions: industrial, agricultural, and political. At this time, the nation-state emerges as a popular concept in Europe.

Nation-states are countries whose territory exists within specific boundaries and whose populations share common features, such as language. Nation-states are small, but powerful. As European countries colonize in other regions, such as Africa, the nation-state model is employed. Colonialists draw boundaries, build capital cities, and develop the means to exploit...