what does it mean when historians say nations only became states recently and that most people up until recently didn't see themselves as part of a nation state. what are the main differences between those two and what facilitated that change?

by roadhogmainOW

CptNoble

u/mikitacurve and u/SgtBANZAI answered a similar question here.

u/BugraEffendi offered a related answer here.

It's a big question, so I'm sure there is more to be said.