Summarise the attributes of a nation, as Renan understands them. Why, in his view, are nations important?
According to Renan, a nation is the culmination of a long past of endeavours, sacrifice and devotion. A nation is built on a heroic past, great men, and glory, which form the social capital upon which the national idea is based. The essential conditions of being a people include having common glories in the past, a common will in the present, having performed great deeds together, and wishing to perform still more. A nation is therefore a large-scale solidarity, and its existence is like a daily plebiscite.
In Renan's view, nations are important because their existence is a good thing and even a necessity. They serve as a guarantee of liberty, which would be lost if the world had only one law and only one master.
Explanation
This answer draws directly from Renan's lecture 'What is a Nation?' quoted in the textbook. The first paragraph covers the attributes: shared past, common will, solidarity, and the concept of daily plebiscite. The second paragraph addresses why nations matter - they guarantee liberty against the threat of a single global authority. The answer follows the word limit (approximately 115 words) and uses bold for key terms as required.