Highlight the reason for the growth of the nationalist tensions in the Balkam region before the First World War.
(5 marker question)
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Answers
Answer:
One of the main reasons for the tensions to emerge after 1871 in Balkans was because the people were aspired to nationalism. During the 19th century, major portion of Balkans was under the Ottoman Empire. They tried to adopt modern techniques to make changes in the internal backwardness of the state but they did not succeed.
The following are the reasons for the growth of nationalist tensions emerged in the Balkans :
• ETHNIC VARIATION : The Balkans was a region of geographical and ethnic variations comprising modern day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia,
Bosnia-Herzegovina , Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro. Their native inhabitants were broadly classified as 'Slaves'.
• DISINTEGRATION OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE : A large part of Balkans was under the control of the Ottoman empire.The ideas of romantic nationalism in the Balkans together with disintegration from the Ottoman Empire made this region very explosive.
•SUBJUGATION : Soon many foreign powers attempted to subjugate these newly independent states. The Balkan people tried to claim independence by using history to prove that they had once been independent but were eventually made colonies by foreign powers. Hence, rebellious nationalities struggled to win back their long-lost independence.
• JEALOUSY : There was a jealousy among the Balkan states and each hoped to expand their boundaries at the expense of others. During this period, the ideology of Europe was changed, the liberal feelings were narrowed down with limited ends. Intolerance followed among the groups and they were ready to fight a war.
• POWER STRUGGLE : Russia, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Britain, the European powers were interested to expand their own imperialism. Trade, colonies, naval and military powers were some of the major factors which all the European powers were struggling for. They were all very keen on controlling the hold of the other and extending their own.
• All these led to a series of wars and finally World War I.
World War I ( 1914 - 1918 ) was fought by two major groups :
Allies : Britain, Russia, Europe, later joined by U.S.A.
Axis : Austria - Hungary, Germany,Ottoman Turkey
In this war, Allies defeated the Acis and the war got finally over with the 'Treaty of Versailles'.
NOTE : Greece was not a part in the Balkans' wars since it became independent from Ottoman Empire in 1832 with the 'Treaty of Constantinople (1832)'.