(IFTO 2017) - Question Medium of History

Imagine you have a time machine and can visit children from 100 years ago. These children do not have video games, cell phones, or tablets. Describe to them one of your favorite games or activities nowadays. Now, ask them to teach you a game or activity they used to play. What is this game like? Which one do you find more fun and why?

During the period known as the 'Revolution of the Modern States', the political fragmentation characteristic of the Middle Ages gave way to centralized structures of power, with monarchs emerging as unifying figures of increasingly defined nations. This process not only reconfigured the political map of Europe but also deeply impacted social and economic organization, transforming the relationship between rulers and the ruled. In 'The Foundations of Power and Wealth', historian Norman Davies states that 'The emergence of modern states was not only the result of political and military forces, but also reflected a change in mentalities and methods of governance.' Considering the context presented and Davies' quote, develop a discursive essay addressing the following points: 1) Explain how the formation of European nation-states altered power dynamics and the political organization of the continent. 2) Discuss the social implications and the new governance paradigm that emerged with the centralization of power in the hands of monarchs and the transition to a more 'national' government.