The Effects of Nationalism from the Napoleonic Era
             The period of 1799-1815, otherwise known as the Napoleonic era, was one of
             great change both physically and ideologically. The entire continent of
             Europe and many of its colonial holdings were completely reshaped and/or
             united against an impressive French presence. The Napoleonic era gave rise
             to the beginning of a new form of unification: nationalism. In respect to
             the Napoleonic era, the emergence of nationalism effected Europe as well as
             the world in four major areas: warfare, the generation of new intellectual
             thought, the arts, and the spread of nationalistic pride in Europe, Latin
             Warfare was Napoleon's tool in which he obtained both his high-ranking
             status as well as his empire. It was via the French military that Napoleon
             increased his stature until he finally became the ultimate power of
             authority. Using the war hero image to appeal to the masses is very common
             in history; Napoleon uses this very strategy to rise to power in France. He
             first used his military expertise to obtain the title of a hero in 1797 with
             a defeat against an Austrian army. Upon returning to Paris he was hailed as
             a hero. Using this popularity, Napoleon created "a highly centralized
             administration in which all departments were managed by prefects directly
             responsible to the central government of Paris."(Craig et al 702) Napoleon
             established control of the government and, in 1804, seized an opportunity
             that he believed would establish a lasting dynasty that would secure the new
             In 1804 Napoleon is crowned emperor of the French. This is an important
             fact to recognize because it is an early sign of nationalistic thought. The
             idea of and emperor of the French rather than an emperor of France is a very
             important distinction. Emperor of the French represents the Nation as one
             group unite...