CENTRAL HISTORICAL QUESTION WHY DO THE BALKANS MATTER?

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Samuel Golden
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1 CENTRAL HISTORICAL QUESTION WHY DO THE BALKANS MATTER? Collection of maps & historical facts that, collectively, spell why the Balkans matter in the origin story of WWI.

The Balkan Peninsula, popularly referred to as the Balkans, is a

[1] The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch from

The Balkans are generally considered to include Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia

3 The Balkan Peninsula, popularly referred to as the Balkans, is a geographical region of Southeast Europe. [1] The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch from the east of Serbia to the Black Sea at the east of Bulgaria. The Balkans are generally considered to include Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, about half of Croatia, Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, most of Serbia, and the European part of Turkey.

THE BALKANS & OTTOMAN EMPIRE FACTS FACT#1 The Balkan states had all once been part of the Ottoman Empire, whom by the late 19 th century known as, The Sick Man of Europe, due to its slow decline and

4 THE BALKANS & OTTOMAN EMPIRE FACTS FACT#1 The Balkan states had all once been part of the Ottoman Empire, whom by the late 19 th century known as, The Sick Man of Europe, due to its slow decline and loss of territory as a result of the nationalistic ambitions of the various ethnic groups within the Ottoman Empire. In the course of the nineteenth century, nationalism took hold among the diverse ethnic and religious communities of southeastern Europe. The Kingdom of Greece was the first to secure full independence in Serbia secured full independence in 1878, as did Montenegro. Bulgaria achieved full independence in None of the Balkan independent states was satisfied with the territory under its control each wanted lands still under Ottoman rule. [Adapted from The Fall of the Ottomans, by Eugene Rogan] FACT#2 The Ottoman Empire eventually found itself to be an enemy of Russia as a result of losing a vast amount of its territory in the Russo-Turkish war in , and lost support from Great Britain as a result of the disturbing April Uprising.

10 THE BALKANS & AUSTRO HUNGARIAN EMPIRE FACTS FACT#1 Austria-Hungary was a multinational realm and one of the world's great powers at the time. Austria-Hungary was geographically the second-largest country in Europe after the Russian Empire, and the third-most populous (after Russia and the German Empire). FACT#2 In 1912 and 1913, there had been a series of wars in the Balkans. The first was a victory for large concentrations of ethnic groups in the Balkans who went on to form their own nations such as Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Serbia, out of the Ottoman Empire. This meant that each of those ETHNIC GROUPS gained more territory for themselves to form their own nations. They subsequently fought a second Balkan War over how to divide up that land amongst themselves. FACT#3 The Austro-Hungarian Empire consisted of large concentrations of ethnic groups such as Serbians, who geographical location in the Austro-Hungarian Empire bordered the recently formed nation of Serbia. FACT#4The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a close ally of the relatively new kingdom of Germany, whom was a bitter enemy of France after France lost land to Germany in the Franco- Prussian War.

THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE & THE BALKANS FACTS FACT#1 Most Russians considered themselves Slavs a European ethnic group that also included Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Slovenes,

13 THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE & THE BALKANS FACTS FACT#1 Most Russians considered themselves Slavs a European ethnic group that also included Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Slovenes, Macedonians, Montenegrins, etc.) In other words, there were ethnic ties between Russian and the diverse peoples of the Balkans. FACT#2 In 1908, Austria-Hungary had annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina (which had been Ottoman provinces), where the majority of the population was Slavic. FACT#3: Russia made an alliance with France in 1893 agreeing to support France in any attack against Germany.

This is a map of the Triple Alliance between Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy made in 1883. The Triple Alliance was a military alliance among Germany, Austria Hungary, and Italy.

14 This is a map of the Triple Alliance between Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy made in The Triple Alliance was a military alliance among Germany, Austria Hungary, and Italy. It lasted from 20 May 1882 until Each member promised mutual support in the event of an attack by any other great power, or, in the case of Germany and Italy, an attack by France alone. In a supplementary declaration, Italy specified that its undertakings could not be regarded as being directed against Great Britain. Shortly after renewing the Alliance in June 1902, Italy secretly extended a similar guarantee to France. By a particular agreement, neither Austria Hungary nor Italy would change the status quo in the Balkans without previous consultation

Meets National Standards

Meets National Standards Editor: Chad Beard and Janice Baker Cover Design: Michele Winkelman Design & Layout: Cecil Anderson Carole Marsh/Gallopade International/Peachtree City, GA 2005 Paperback ISBN: