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 .