How did Romanticism seek to develop a particular form of nationalist sentiments during 18th century? Explain.
Romanticism referred to a cultural movement which sought to develop a particular form of national sentiment.
Romantic artist and poets generally criticised the glorification of reason and science.
They focussed on emotions, intuition and mystical feelings. Their effort was to create a sense of a shared collective heritage, a common cultural past as the basis of a nation.
Some German Romantics like Johann Gottfried Herder thought that through folk songs, folk poetry and folk dance, the true spirit of the nation could, be popularised. He claimed that true German-culture was to be discovered among the common people.