Global Shifts: Imperialism, World Wars, and Early 20th Century Revolutions
Causes of Colonialism
- From an economic standpoint, European countries needed new markets for selling surplus production.
- From a demographic standpoint, population growth in Europe during the 19th century led to overcrowding, difficulties in finding work, and social tensions.
- From a political point of view, Europe's borders had stabilized in the late 19th century, necessitating territorial expansion in extra-European regions.
- From an ideological point of view, conservative nationalism advocated the superiority of some nations and their right to impose themselves on other nations.
Forms of Colonialism
Colonies of Exploitation
These were territories directly controlled by the metropolis, primarily for economic exploitation.
Colonies of Settlement
These were colonies where, due to favorable climatic conditions, a sparse indigenous population, or specific natural resources, large numbers of white settlers migrated to establish permanent residences.
Protectorates
These were territories that, after European occupation, retained their own state organization, indigenous governments, and administrative apparatus, albeit under European influence or control.
Significance of the Berlin Conference
The Conference proclaimed the freedom of navigation on the Congo and Niger rivers. Free trade was established in the middle of the African continent, specifically within the Congo Basin. The prohibition of slavery was agreed upon, and the right to claim a portion of the African coast was established only if the territory was effectively occupied and this occupation was communicated to other states.
Causes of World War I
The primary causes of the war included:
- The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Economic competition
- Colonial rivalries between European states
- Constant and rapid rearmament in Europe
- Conflicts in the Balkans
End of World War I
World War I ended with the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918. This established the defeat of the Central Powers, largely due to attrition that made continued military effort impossible, rather than decisive military defeats.
Significance of the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles formally marked the end of World War I.
The October Revolution
A revolution based on the ideas of Karl Marx, it marked the beginning of a wave of communist revolutions throughout the twentieth century. Unlike the February Revolution, it was not a spontaneous process, but rather the result of planning and coordination.
The USSR (Soviet Union)
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was a state located in northern Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991.