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 , the French Empire , the British Empire ) . In Europe , in the 18th century , the classic non-national states were the multi-ethnic empires , ( the Austro-Hungarian Empire , the Russian Empire , the Ottoman Empire , the British Empire ) and smaller states at what would now be called sub-national level .