Contextualization

The formation of modern states is one of the most intriguing and necessary topics for understanding the political, economic and social relations that exist today. We will start with a theoretical introduction.

The concept of the Modern State emerged in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, during the period known as the transition from feudalism to capitalism. It arises due to the need to centralize the power, previously divided among the feudal lords, in a single figure: the monarch. This political centralization, also known as the Absolute Monarchy, is characterized by the absolute and uncontested power of the king, without division of powers.

There are four fundamental elements that make up a Modern State: population, territory, sovereign government and international recognition. These elements are essential and are interconnected. A State cannot exist without any of them. Furthermore, Modern States are characterized by the presence of a state bureaucracy, a permanent army, a tax system and the application of state law.

But why are this history and these theoretical concepts important? First, because they help us to understand historical events that led to the formation of States as we know them today. Second, and perhaps more importantly, they help us to understand the complexities of current power relations. They allow us to see how the power structures that exist today were formed and how they influence our daily lives.

In the real world, Modern States are the basis of the global political system. They are the main actors in international relations, and their formation and development have had a huge impact on the way the world is organized. In addition, States are responsible for guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of individuals and for administering justice, education, health and other public services.

We are providing a list of reliable resources for you to build on and delve into the topic:

1. HESPANHA, António. "The Formation of the Modern State". In: LINHARES, M.Y. (org.). General History of Brazilian Civilization

2. SKINNER, Quentin. "The Foundations of Modern Political Thought". Available at https://www.stoa.usp.br/rmcdonald/files/-/12113/12267/13598/ .

3. WOOD, Ellen Meiksins. "The Origin of Capitalism". Available at https://www.stoa.usp.br/rmcdonald/files/-/12113/12267/13598/.

4. "Student's Guide" website, History section. Available at https://guiadoestudante.abril.com.br/

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Mapping the Formation of Modern States"

Project Objective:

The objective of this project is to delve deeply into the history and political concepts of Modern States, analyze their formation, influences and conflicts, and create a visual and interactive timeline.

Detailed Project Description:

In this activity, groups of 3 to 5 students will research, analyze and visually represent the main events and transformations that led to the formation of modern States. This will be done through the creation of an interactive Timeline using digital design tools.

Students will choose at least four Modern States and will analyze the following points:

1. Historical and political context that led to the creation of the State.
2. Main conflicts and revolutions during the formation of the State.
3. Influences of other nations or peoples in the formation of the State.
4. Political, social and economic transformations in the transition to the Modern State.

The groups will also make a comparative analysis between the chosen States and will draw conclusions about the similarities and differences found.

Required Materials:

• Online resources for research.
• Computers with internet access and graphic design software or online tool for creating the Timeline (such as Canva, for example).

Detailed Step-by-Step to Complete the Activity:

1. Organize yourself into groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Each group must choose four Modern States to analyze.
3. Conduct a thorough research on each State, using the resources provided and other reliable sources. Students should write down the key points for each of the topics listed above.
4. After the research, the groups should discuss and analyze the information collected, seeking to understand and interpret the historical events and the formation of the States.
5. Next, each group will create an interactive Timeline in the chosen design software. Each point on the timeline should have a summary and analysis of the events.
6. Finally, the groups should make a comparative analysis between the States and present their conclusions on the Timeline.
7. This project should take more than 12 hours per student to complete. Make good use of the time, dividing the tasks among the group members.

Project Deliverables:

1. Interactive Timeline: with detailed annotations and analysis for each point on the timeline.
2. Written Report: presenting the Introduction to the topic, the Development of the study, the Conclusions of the comparative analysis and the Bibliography used. The report must have at least 10 pages.

The Timeline will represent the practical part of the project, showing the students' ability to collect, analyze and present complex information in a clear and visual way.

The written report, on the other hand, will be the theoretical part, where the students will present their analyses and conclusions in a more in-depth way, showing their understanding of the concepts studied and the connection between the theoretical study and the practical activity.

In this report, in the "Introduction", students should contextualize the topic, its relevance and its objective. In the "Development", the students should explain the theory behind the theme, explain the activity in detail, indicate the methodology used and the results obtained. In the "Conclusion", the students should reinforce the main points, explain the lessons learned and the conclusions about the project. Finally, in the "Bibliography", the students should indicate the sources used for the project.