One has to be careful not to backdate our current understanding of identity. Identities were rich and very fluid, being German was an identity, which the Dutch ("Deutsch") had until very recently. But for example religion was very important as an identity, as well as even European once like being a Frank. The Roman Empire was much more important than often credited in German/Prussian history, because it was precisely part of the nation building process to downplay the Empire, to build a Prussian Germany. My parents are boomers, and I remember how my mother was complaining about Prussian coffee. Also in Highschool I was learning Saxonian history, right now my daughters are also learning Hamburg's history.