Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for History

International Relations (1947-1991)

Extreme Tension (1947-1956)

The Blockade of Berlin

Berlin was in the area occupied by the Soviets after the war. It was divided into four sectors: British, French, American, and Soviet. In 1948, the allies unified their areas of occupation. Stalin responded by blocking access to West Berlin. The allies provided the population with food and essential goods by means of airlifts. The blockade was ended in 1949.

The Korean War

After the war, the Korean peninsula was divided in half by the 38th parallel. The north had a communist government controlled by the USSR. The south had an anti-communist dictatorship under American control. The North started a war by invading the South. China and Russia supported the North,... Continue reading "The Cold War and Its Aftermath (1947-1991)" »

Scientific Revolution (1500-1700)

The Scientific Revolution marked a major shift in thinking between 1500 and 1700, establishing modern science as a new way to gain knowledge about the natural world.

Key Concepts and Figures

Geocentric Theory

The theory placing Earth at the center of the universe.

Heliocentric Theory

The theory placing the Sun at the center of the universe.

Galileo Galilei

An Italian astronomer and mathematician who built his own telescope, observed four moons revolving around Jupiter, and provided crucial support for the heliocentric theory.

Scientific Method

A systematic method of procedure involving observation, measurement, experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses, which has characterized natural science

Pre-Columbian America and the Age of Discovery:

How did early humans get to what is now North, Central, and South America? The Three Sisters, Tenochtitlan. For what major reasons did the 'Age of Discovery' take place in the 15th century? Maya, Aztec (Mexica), Inca, Animism, Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Conquistadors. What factors increased the Conquistador's success in 'conquering' early civilizations? The 3 G's, La Maliche. How were the English Different? Roanoke - settler demographics.

- What happened? Sir Walter Raleigh, Virginia Dare, John White. Which European nation had the worst reputation for their treatment of the Indigenous populations of Central and South America? Impact of other European colonization in the Americas (... Continue reading "Pre-Columbian America, Age of Discovery, and Colonial America" »

Bizkaiko langileei: 12th text commentary

This document is a first level text, in which the target reader can be any citizen. Although it is not known who the author is exactly, we know it was written by the workers of the mining district. We can also deduce it was written by a socialist because it was published in La Lucha de Clases. It was written in 1st May 1896. The content is political and socioeconomic. The text is about the demands of workers.

This text was written during the Restoration level. The system was conservative and two dynastic parties took the power in turns using rigging elections. On the one hand it was a specially delicate moment, because not only was the situation of the country bad, but they were also starting to have problems... Continue reading "Bizkaiko Langileei: 12th Text Commentary and Demands" »

Absolutism in Europe: The Rise of Authoritarian Monarchies

Beginning in the late 15th century, European monarchs began consolidating power, gradually wresting it from traditional sources of authority like the nobility, the Church, and city-states. This trend, known as the rise of authoritarian monarchies, continued throughout the 16th century.

The 17th Century: The Zenith of Absolute Rule

The 17th century witnessed the culmination of this power shift, with monarchs reaching the pinnacle of their authority. This period marked the emergence of absolutism, a political system where the king embodied the ultimate source and wielder of all political power.

Philosophical Justifications for Absolute Power

Several prominent thinkers sought to legitimize... Continue reading "Absolutism in Europe: From Authoritarian Monarchies to the Divine Right of Kings" »

The Crisis of 1973 and Its Consequences

In 1973, an economic crisis began that affected many countries.

Who?

The OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), an organization to which several Arab countries belonged.

Why?

An attempt to pressure Western countries to convince Israel to abandon the Palestinian territories that had been occupied since the Yom Kippur War (1973).

What?

An embargo on the sale of oil. The price of oil tripled in Western countries and affected all sectors of production. The lack of crude oil led to an economic collapse.

Main Consequences:

• The uncontrolled rise of prices (inflation) caused by the increase in the price of oil.
• Reduction of demand.
• Many businesses had to close and unemployment grew.

Measures to Solve the Crisis

Some... Continue reading "The Crisis of 1973 and the Fall of Communism" »

Truman Doctrine

The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy whose stated purpose was to counter Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War. It was announced to Congress by President Harry S. Truman on March 12, 1947, and further developed on July 12, 1948, when he pledged to contain threats in Greece and Turkey. Direct American military force was usually not involved, but Congress appropriated financial aid to support the economies and militaries of Greece and Turkey. More generally, the Truman Doctrine implied American support for other nations allegedly threatened by Soviet communism. The Truman Doctrine became the foundation of American foreign policy, and led, in 1949, to the formation of NATO, a military alliance that is still... Continue reading "Cold War Foreign Policies: Truman Doctrine, Deterrence, and Domino Theory" »

First World War 1914-1918

Reasons why it arose:

• Political tensions (colonization).
• Alliances.
• Industrial Revolution.

Alliances:

Germany is a new empire and they start to get a lot of power so Great Britain and France they were allies (Entente cordiale 1904)

• Germany + Italy + Austria + Hungary.
• Great Britain + France.

Great Britain and France they were allied (E.C. 1904) because Germany was taking away their power.

Russia joined Great Britain and France in 1914 and the Triple Entente emerged.

• Great Britain + France + Russia → Triple Entente 1914

Italy and Austria got along badly.

Italy wanted to invade Austria and Hungary so France tells them to ally with them and that if they won Austria and Hungary they would be for Italy, and Italy they accepted that.... Continue reading "Causes and Alliances of World War 1" »