Did nationalism predate nation states?

This position holds that nationalism predated the nation state. It argues there is strong evidence of nationalist-like behaviour in societies long before the modern nation state existed—pointing to the national identity of ancient Greek city states and casting nationalism as a form of tribalism.

While group and tribal identities have existed for centuries, the particular phenomenon of "nationalism" is most accurately viewed as unique to the nation state.

This position holds that nationalism and nation states emerged hand in hand, neither preceding the other. It argues both grew out of a new awareness of geography—shaped by fifteenth-century mapmaking and exploration—that defined territories and the peoples within them.