Roads to conflict Flashcards
What was the Eastern Question?
The issue of political and economic stability in the Ottoman empire in the late C18th and early C20th.
What shift took place in the 18th century in terms of states power?
The Russian and Ottoman empires switched power due to the Ottoman’s being restricted by the Habsburgs
What groups lived in the Balkans?
Slavs, Greeks, Bosnian Muslims
How did the Ottoman empire reform?
Became more centralised, reformed the army and taxes.
What were the consequences of the Serbian uprisings of 1804 and 1815
They remained part of the Ottoman empire but had some rights in managing their own affairs
What were the consequences of the Crimean war?
Russia was removed from the concert of Europe, Ottoman empire was included on probation, more colonial infrastructure, expansion of Serbia.
When was the first time a united Germany played an international role?
At the congress and treaty of Berlin.
When did the Eastern Question start to emerge?
The 1820s
What were the three most important phases of the Eastern Quesion
The Greek war of independence (1821), Crimean war (1853-1856) and the Eastern Crises (1875-1878)
Why did many countries not want the Ottoman empire to collapse?
It was useful for trade and its decline would have led to more liberalism in Europe
What were the conseuqneces of the Crimean war?
Ottomans accepted into the concert of Europe, Russia seen as a weak power and pushed East. Russia took on new identity as defenders of Orthodox Christianity in Europe
What was the Eastern Crisis?
Uprisings in the Ottoman empire which led to the intervention of external powers and the taking away of Ottoman land. Ottoman empire also carried out massacres in Chios, means their reputation declined.
Who does Remak see as the main players in starting WW1?
Serbia and Austria
Who have revisionists blamed for the outbreak of WW1
Austria Hungary, but also France and Russia
Who did Sidney Fay blame for the outbreak of WW1?
Austria Hungary, Germany and Russia
How did the independence of Serbia and decline in Ottoman empire lead to WW1?
Serbia was a tumultuous nation after independence. The black hand rose up as an independence group and aimed to kill Archduke Franz Ferdinand, sparking WW1.
Quote Williamson: who caused ww1?
“Austria Hungary and Germany (and Serbia) pushed events to a local war whereas French and Russian support made it a world war”
Why did the Ottoman’s believe the July crisis was a way out of their collapse?
They thought they could fight a quick war and gain a strong ally in Germany.
What event in 1875 made the Eastern question erupt once again?
The deposition of Abdul Aziz who was replaced by Murad V in Constantinople
What happened at the meeting at Constantinople between powers?
The sultan claimed a new liberal constitution and peace was made with Serbia. Russia however declared war only a month later.
Quote: The outcome of the settlement at the congress of Berlin
The settlement at the congress of Berlin had the remarkable outcome that it left each power dissatisfied and more anxious than before - Thompson
What was the effect of the Bulgarians becoming independent?
Britain saw Bulgaria as a more effective block to Russia than the Ottoman’s, thus isolating the Ottoman’s even more than before
What agreement was made in December 1887 between Britain, Austria Hungary and Italy?
An agreement to keep the peace and status quo in the east in order to stop Russian expansion towards Constantinople
What happened to Russia’s concerns after 1887?
Became less involved in the Balkans and had greater concerns in Asia and the far east
Who did the Ottoman empire end up having to rely on?
Germany for financial support. They negotiated the Berlin Baghdad which gave Germany valuable links to the Ottoman empire
What happened in Crete in 1896?
Crete, which was Ottoman land was at constant conflict between the Christian majority and Muslim minority. This meant an uprising happened and with the help of Britain, France, Italy and Russia the island was granted autonomy
When was the Young Turk revolution
1908
What were the consequences of the Young Turk revolution?
Abdul was deposed by the Young Turks but they were inexperienced and so were replaced by his brother Mohammed.
Historiography: Leslie Rogne Schumacher
The West gained an identity comparing itself to the East. There were three important phases of the eastern question being the Greek war of independence, Crimean war and Eastern Crises. Western society was allied with the Greeks as it saw them as naturally descended from the Greeks. The Ottomans were often the tool of other countries so had few allies.
Historiography: Joachim Remak
The Brits were disturbing the balance of power more than anyone else as they were colonising the world. They didn’t want competition so tried to limit Germany. Shows Britain as an instigator of the war. Russia was the one that made the war a larger scale. Was a war of the Balkans, arose from nationalism which came out of resistance to the Ottoman empire. Serbia and Austria the main players
Historiography: Frary and Kozelsky
There was no one Eastern question. Muslims were a key part of the Eastern question as they were seen as un-European. A historic rivalry between the Russians and Ottoman’s but it wasn’t the reason the Ottoman’s were involved in WW1. Russia saw conflict with the Ottoman’s as bigger than that with Germany.
Historiography: Williamson
Germany central to any explanation of war but are now considered in conjunction with other nations. Russia had imperial aims in the Balkans due to fall out after the decline of the Ottoman empire.
Historiography: Aksakal
The Ottomans joined the war because they felt threatened by Russia and wanted to strengthen their alliance with Germany.
What were the consequences of the eastern crisis?
Russia uses the massacres taking place in order to intervene in the Ottoman empire. Bosnia is given to Austria Hungary and the Ottoman empire is reduced to a small central section.
When did Bulgaria claim independence from the ottomans?
1908
Quote: Remak, Was WW1 planned?
No govt had “premeditated desire for European war in 1914”
