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

Government

• The pharaohs had viziers.

• Almost every pharaoh was a man.

• When a pharaoh died, his son or wife would sometimes become the next pharaoh.

• The pharaoh was the king and was considered a god.

• They had a dynasty, meaning there was a series of rulers from the same family.

• Menes was the first king to unite Upper and Lower Egypt.

Innovation

• Egypt prospered under effective pharaohs.

• The pharaohs used their enormous wealth and power to build pyramids.

• The pyramids represented the Egyptian belief that life is a passageway to the afterlife, an existence believed to follow death.

• The pyramids took many years to build.

• The first pyramid built was Khufu.

• The pyramids were built in the Old Kingdom.

Vulnerability

• The Hyksos came to live in Egypt and brought an end

What was the social structure of cities? As during all the Middle Ages, there were big differences among the population.

The Upper Classes

The upper classes were formed by two groups.

• The upper nobility continued having their privileges, and some moved to the cities and lived in palaces.
• A new social class emerged: the wealthy bourgeoisie. These were the rich merchants, bankers and leaders of the important guilds. This group normally formed the city government.

The Lower Classes

The lower classes were formed by the rest of the population.

• The commoners formed the majority. There were small craftsmen, merchants and servants. They lived modestly.
• The lower nobility also belonged to this group. As they didn't work and didn't possess any land, they were

New Global Geopolitics: The World Divided into Blocs

The Formation of the Blocs

As of 1947, the United States and the USSR became adversaries because they adopted radically different political and economic systems. They formed two blocs of countries.

Capitalist Bloc (USA)

Included the countries of Western Europe and Japan, with common features like parliamentary democracy and a capitalist economy. This bloc was strengthened by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Communist Bloc (USSR)

Included the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (occupied after World War I). These countries subordinated freedoms and individual rights to the state's interests and a planned economy. The bloc was reinforced by a military alliance (the Warsaw Pact).... Continue reading "The Cold War: A Geopolitical Division of the World" »

UNIT 8: THE COLD WAR AND THE PROCESS OF DECOLONISATION

1.1. THE WORLD AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR

After World War II, two victorious world powers emerged: the USA and the USSR. They became adversaries because they had different political, economic, and social systems. Each power looked for allies in the rest of the world and attempted to influence foreign governments. Two opposed blocs emerged: USA insisted on the expulsion of the communists from Western Europe, while USSR looked to establish communist governments in Eastern and Central Europe.

1.2. THE CONTROL OF THE BLOCS

In 1947, the American president, Harry S. Truman denounced the imposition of communist regimes in Eastern and Central Europe, offered economic and military aid to the countries... Continue reading "The Cold War and Decolonization: USA, USSR, and Capitalism" »

 1_ Why did war break out in Europe in 1914?
Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria-Hungarian Empire, was assassinated by a Bosnian student. This was the trigger for the start of the war. The main tensions were Morocco, the Balkan wars and the military alliances. To have a general context we have to understand the general scene in Europe. There was a rivalry between powers and in this era nationalism was stronger than ever.
a) Colonial Conflicts: The Moroccan crises:
- Berlin conference (1885): Rules were established for the colonization of the African continent by European Empires. The rise of powers reopened the conflict. - Spain + France vs Morocco + Germany (1905): which authorized a Franco-Spanish protectorate, forced the Germans to back down.... Continue reading "Steps to war - aggression by japan, italy and germany 1931-1939" »

Text 9 Librecambism and protectionism

This text Is a transcription of a speech given by the speaker Federico Etxebarria, a Basque (). Its aim is to complain about a possible trade treaty between Spain And Germany, which will allowed German iron to be sold in the country. It is a First level text dated on the late 19^th century, in 1893.

This Speech was given during the period of Restoration System, implied after the Intention, in 1874, of creating a republic in the country. The country was at This period run by the 1876 Constitution and where the two dynastic parties, The conservatives of Cánovas and the liberals of Sagasta took it in terms to Govern. Rigging elections enable this situation. Economicwise, Spain was not Very developed. Agriculture... Continue reading "The Impact of Protectionism on 19th Century Spain: A Basque Perspective" »

Causes of Imperialism

Economic Rivalry

Competition between countries for lands increased military expenditure.

Political Rivalry

New powers (USA and France), alliances, Balkans conflict.

Colonialism

• Industrial development = demographic growth - life improves
• Strategic moves
• Developed countries compete for dominance = suspicion between powers

Congress of Berlin

USA, Germany, Japan VS England

Portugal, Belgium, Italy: interested in African colonies (raw materials)

German Otto von Bismarck distributed Africa.

Consequences of Colonialism

For the Colonies

• No industrialization
• Land exploitation
• Imposition of conquering power
• Destruction of ethnic structures
• Artificial borders

For the Empires

• Development of industrialization
• Strategic moves
• Arms race
• Suspicion between powers
• Prestige
• Introduced

The Hegemony of the USA

The USA had two main political parties: The Republican (centre-right) and The Democratic (centre-left).

Harry S. Truman and Dwight Eisenhower (1945-1960) established a severe anti-communist foreign policy by:

• Creating a “blacklist” of communist sympathizers in the trade unions, among Hollywood actors, screenwriters, and directors.

John F. Kennedy became president (1961) and tensions eased. The civil rights movement emerged, advocating for equality of rights for the Black population. Its main leader was Martin Luther King.

The American economy grew significantly after the war. Transport and tourism, agriculture and industry, commerce and finance all contributed to the rise of powerful multinational companies that spread... Continue reading "The Post-War World: US Hegemony, Japanese Miracle, and the Rise of the European Union" »

The Carolingian Empire (8th Century)

The Carolingian Empire emerged from the Frankish Kingdom during the 8th century. Initially, the effective rulers were powerful officials known as the Mayors of the Palace.

Key Carolingian Rulers

• Charles Martel: A powerful Mayor of the Palace who halted the Muslim advance at the Battle of Tours (732).
• Pepin the Short: Crowned King in 751, officially ending the Merovingian dynasty.
• Charlemagne (Charles the Great): Crowned King in 768.

Charlemagne's Reign and Expansion

Charlemagne significantly expanded the Frankish realm, conquering:

• Italy
• Northern Iberia (the Spanish March)
• The pagan Saxons

In 800, the Pope crowned Charlemagne the Holy Roman Emperor, symbolizing the revival of the Western Roman Empire. The capital of... Continue reading "The Carolingian Dynasty and the Foundations of Medieval Europe" »

The Congress of Vienna and the Restoration

The Congress of Vienna, convened after Napoleon's defeat in 1815, marked a return to the Ancien Régime. European powers—Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain—sought to restore the pre-revolutionary political order.

Two key alliances emerged during this period:

• The Holy Alliance: Comprising Russia, Prussia, and Austria.
• The Quadruple Alliance: Including Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Great Britain.

Revolutions and Ideologies

The 19th century witnessed numerous revolutions across Europe, fueled by discontent with the restored order. These uprisings were driven by powerful ideologies:

Liberalism

Liberalism championed individual liberties and resonated with the burgeoning bourgeoisie. Its core principles... Continue reading "19th Century European Revolutions: From Restoration to Reform" »