ABSTRACT
Three distinct features of nationalism are territory, people and identity: territory in the sense that a nation or a state is a place that is identified by some locational and boundary features on the ground and on a map; people in the sense of who resides within that specific bounded space; and identity referring to the heritage or contemporary ties and relationships that residents within the bounded space have with others in that territorial unit. Territory, people and identity are features one can associate with early humans and also with humankind today. The “geographic worlds” today are rich in boundary claims and territorial conflicts and resolutions as well as land survey systems and territorial water claims, all rich in place names. A keen and even a casual observation of stamps can provide some “reading” of a state's history and its place in the world. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
