What states existed before nation-states?
[[Image:Österreich-Ungarns Ende.png|thumb|220px|right|Division of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into nation states in 1918 ]] In Europe, in the eighteenth century, the classic non-national states were the multi-ethnic empires, (the (Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire), and smaller states at what would now be called sub-national level. The multi-ethnic empire was a monarchy ruled by a king, emperor, or Sultan. The population belonged to many ethnic groups, and they spoke many languages. The empire was dominated by one ethnic group, and their language was usually the language of public administration. The ruling dynasty was usually, but not always, from that group. This type of state is not specifically European: such empires existed on all continents. Some of the smaller European states were not so ethnically diverse, but were also dynastic states, ruled by a royal house. Their territory could expand by royal marriage, or merge with another state when the dyna
