Imperial Tensions Europe, Africa, and Asia Before World War I  Until the 19th century, lots of variation in Europe ◦ Big problem in a globalizing economy  Mapmaking ◦ By 1890s, attempts to standardize cartography (Albrecht Penck) ◦ Reservations (especially between Britain and France) and obstacles

The Problem of Nationalist Weights and Measurements

 Until the 19th century, lots of variation in Europe ◦ Especially problematic in a globalizing economy  Mapmaking ◦ By 1890s, attempts were being made to standardize cartography (Albrecht Penck) ◦ Reservations (especially between Britain and France) and obstacles ◦ Establishing standardized time

The Problem of Nationalist Weights and Measurements  By 1871, five major super-powers (Germany, Britain, France, Austria-Hungary, and Russia)  1873 = the “Three Emperors’ League” ◦ Driven by “geopolitics”

Europe’s Faltering Balance of Power

 By 1871, five major super-powers (Germany, Britain, France, Austria- Hungary, and Russia)  1873 = the “Three Emperors’ League” ◦ Driven by “geopolitics”  Russia’s geopolitical problems with international trade  Austria-Hungary’s internal struggles  The “sick man” of Europe = the Ottoman Empire

Europe’s Faltering Balance of Power  1874 = Serbian uprising in Bosnia & Herzegovina  1875 = Christian uprising in Bulgaria ◦ Ottomans respond with a massacre . . .  Serbo-Russo-Turkish War (1876-1878) ◦ June 1876 = Serbs (with Montenegro) declare war against the Ottoman Empire ◦ April 1877 = Russia declares war against the Ottoman Empire and easily defeats them  Congress of Berlin (1878) ◦ Bismarck as “honest broker” ◦ Territorial changes in the Balkans for “peace” The Problematic Balkans

 1882 = Italy joins the Dual Alliance (Germany & Austria-Hungary) to create “Triple Alliance”  1885 = “Bulgarian Crisis” ◦ Serbia declares war on Bulgaria  Russia threatens to occupy Bulgaria ◦ And Austria-Hungary threatens to stop them ◦ Lots of tension in the Three Emperors’ League  Serbs lose the war (in 14 days) ◦ Greater Bulgaria is internationally recognized  1887 = Bismarck’s “Reinsurance Treaty” Shaky Alliances

 Bismarck sacked (1890); Reinsurance Treaty allowed to lapse  1894 = Russia enters into an alliance with France  1907 = The Triple Entente (France, Great Britain, Russia)  Triple Entente & Triple Alliance get along for awhile . . . ◦ But then things start to deteriorate (especially in the Balkans)

Alliances Begin to Shift . . .  First Balkan War (1912-1913) ◦ 1908 = Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia & Herzegovina ◦ 1911 = Italy invades Libya and declares war against the Ottoman Empire ◦ 1912 = Balkan League formed, declares war against the Ottoman Empire  Second Balkan War (1913) ◦ June 1913 = Bulgaria declares war against Serbia and Greece

The Balkan Wars

 First Balkan War (1912-1913) ◦ 1908 = Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia & Herzegovina ◦ 1911 = Italy invades Libya and declares war against the Ottoman Empire ◦ 1912 = Balkan League formed, declares war against the Ottoman Empire  Second Balkan War (1913) ◦ June 1913 = Bulgaria declares war against Serbia and Greece ◦ Romania and the Ottomans declare war against Bulgaria ◦ August 1913 = Treaties of Bucharest and Constantinople The Balkan Wars  Why a “scramble”? ◦ Economic gain ◦ Territorial security / geopolitics ◦ National pride  Why colonize?  Gold and diamond mining, rubber  Germany’s late industrialization meant late colonization – felt left-out

The Scramble for Africa

 1886 = discovery of gold in Witwatersrand/Transvaal region of South Africa ◦ Cecil Rhodes and the Jameson Raid (1895)  October 1899 = Boers declare war against the British colony ◦ British send 350,000 troops to fight 65,000 Boers (who last much longer than expected)  April 1902 = Boers surrender ◦ Segregation becomes the model of politics

The Boer War (1899-1902)  1750s = conquest of India ◦ Great Mutiny of 1857  Afterward, Britain reorganizes . . .  Chinese opium ◦ 1830s = HUGE opium market in China ◦ 1799 = China bans opium ◦ 1839-1842 = First Opium War  China loses; forced into trade agreements

British Imperialism in China & India  1900 = Boxer Rebellion ◦ Boxers = anti-foreign; young, trained men ◦ Spring of 1900 = march on / siege of Beijing ◦ Put down by massive Western coalition  By 1900 = nearly all of Asia is controlled by Europe

British Imperialism in China & India