This lesson examines why Ottoman power weakened and how nationalism destabilized the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. The Balkans became a focal point where imperial rivalry, national aspirations, and religious tensions intersected.
For centuries, the Ottoman Empire had expanded through conquest, drawing people and resources from new territories into service of the sultan. At its height, it governed lands across the Middle East, North Africa, and southeastern Europe. Its armies once reached Vienna in 1683, but that expansion did not continue indefinitely.
All flashcards
What did the label Sick Man of Europe suggest?
It described the weakening Ottoman Empire, whose territorial losses and political difficulties led many to expect its eventual collapse.
What is nationalism?
Nationalism is the belief that people who share a national identity should have political self-rule, often through their own state.
What was pan-Slavism?
Pan-Slavism was an idea advocating unity among Slavic peoples. Serbia promoted it in the Balkans, while Russia claimed a related protective role.
Why did Russia take an interest in the Balkans?
Russia identified with Slavic peoples in the region, competed with Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans, and hoped to increase its influence and gain access to the Mediterranean.
What were two consequences of the Balkan Wars?
The Ottomans lost most of their remaining European territory, and fighting and pressure displaced hundreds of thousands of Muslims from the Balkans.
Quiz questions
Why did nationalism threaten multiethnic empires such as Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire?Answer: Some groups within them sought self-rule or independent states.
What did Germany’s “blank check” to Austria-Hungary mean in 1914?Answer: Germany promised support without setting detailed limits on Austria-Hungary’s actions.
What was the Schlieffen Plan designed to accomplish?Answer: Defeat France quickly before redirecting German forces against Russia.
What helped bring Britain into the war against Germany on August 4, 1914?Answer: Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium, whose independence was treaty-protected.
What followed the German advance being stopped at the Battle of the Marne?Answer: Both sides dug trenches, and a prolonged stalemate developed on the Western Front.
Based on World History Volume 2, from 1400 by Ann Kordas, Ryan J. Lynch, Brooke Nelson, Julie Tatlock (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.