The berlin conference of 1884

In 1914, Europe was divided into two opposing alliances: the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy; and the Triple Entente of Britain, France and Russia. Each country had military capabilities and reasons for distrusting others. This system of alliances and military buildup created rising tensions that led Europe toward war.

1. Imperialism refers to the policy of extending control over other countries or territories economically, politically, and socially. 2. Nations industrialized due to incentives like wealth, power, nationalism, and spreading culture. They required factors of production like land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship as well as political stability and transportation networks to trade. 3. European imperial powers colonized Africa in the late 19th century to gain access to resources and markets. They established systems of direct, indirect, and sphere of influence control over African peoples and territories.

The document outlines several key causes that led to the start of World War 2 in Europe, including the harsh Treaty of Versailles that left Germany humiliated after WWI. This led to the rise of fascism under Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany. Hitler aggressively expanded German territory by remilitarizing the Rhineland and annexing Austria and Czechoslovakia through appeasement by Britain and France. The Great Depression created economic hardship and unstable governments. Japan also increasingly expanded its empire into China. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany, marking the start of World War 2.

The Berlin Conference 2. Africa 3. To avoid conflict amongst themselves over colonizing Africa

European nations scrambled to colonize Africa in the late 19th century over fears of missing out on the continent's raw materials. At the 1884 Berlin Conference, European powers divided up Africa without African representation and agreed to claim territories by establishing outposts. By 1914, Europe had colonized over 90% of Africa, exploiting its resources and altering African societies, though Ethiopia and Liberia maintained independence through military resistance.

The main causes of World War 1 included rising nationalism which caused tensions between European countries over territories, an intensifying arms race and buildup of powerful militaries, and a complex network of alliances that drew more countries into the war. When the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was assassinated by Serbian nationalists, Austria-Hungary issued demands to Serbia and declared war after its terms were rejected. This activated the alliance system and dragged other European powers into war within a month, even though most countries did not want a major conflict.

1) The document introduces the period of New Imperialism from 1860-1914 when European powers greatly expanded their colonial empires and influence worldwide. 2) Major factors driving imperial expansion included the demands of industrialized economies for new markets, raw materials, and agricultural lands, as well as growing nationalism, militarism, and the belief in European racial and cultural superiority. 3) European powers used new industrial and military technologies to establish greater control over their colonies and project power globally through naval fleets and overseas bases.

The document outlines some of the key origins and developments of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union. It describes how differing views of capitalism/communism and democracy/totalitarianism led to tensions between the two superpowers. It also discusses some early Cold War events in Europe, including Stalin installing communist governments in Eastern Europe, the Truman Doctrine providing aid to Greece and Turkey to counter Soviet influence, and the Berlin Blockade and Airlift.

World War I ended in 1918 with Germany's surrender after facing troubles on the home front and with the entry of American troops. In 1919, the Allied Powers met at the Paris Peace Conference to determine the post-war settlement. The resulting Treaty of Versailles punished Germany by assigning war guilt, imposing reparations, taking territory, and limiting its military. However, the treaty was controversial and rejected in some countries, failing to achieve a lasting peace and sowing resentment in Germany that allowed Hitler to rise to power and start World War II.