New Gem | No More Learning

For during the Revolution it became clear that building the nation was not, and could never be, the same thing as building a classical republican city-state.

Word:

stable

Question:

Why was building a nation during the Revolution considered different from constructing a classical republican city-state?

Answer (optional):

Building a nation during the Revolution was considered different from constructing a classical republican city-state because it required not only transforming the character of millions of human beings spread across a large territory but also homogenizing the diverse population into a single national essence. This involved educating and integrating people with varied languages, cultures, and beliefs, many of whom were believed to be heavily illiterate and superstitious. In contrast, building a classical republican city-state would only involve patriotic, civic measures like spectacles, speeches, and inscriptions celebrating past heroes.