Nationalism and Imperialism
INTRODUCTION:
In the last section of NCERT Class 10 History Chapter 1, “Nationalism and Imperialism”, we learn how the idea of nationalism, which began as a force for unity and freedom, later became a cause of tension and war in Europe. The NCERT textbook explains that by the late 19th century, nationalism turned narrow and aggressive, and European powers started using it to serve their imperialist interests. A major focus of this section is the Balkans, a region where the decline of the Ottoman Empire and rivalry among the “Great Powers” created continuous conflicts, finally contributing to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
Nationalism Becomes Narrow and Intolerant
Change in Character (Late 19th Century)
By the last quarter of the 19th century, nationalism in Europe no longer maintained its idealistic liberal-democratic sentiment.
How Did It Change?
Nationalist groups became intolerant of each other
They emphasized their own nation's superiority
Conflicts and wars increased between nations
The idea of national unity was used to justify imperial expansion
Imperialism Aligned with Nationalism
Major European powers manipulated the nationalist aspirations of subject peoples in Europe to further their own imperialist aims.
What Is Imperialism?
Imperialism means building empires by conquering and controlling other territories to gain economic and political power.
Key Point for Exams:
Nationalism, which began as a force for freedom, now became a tool for
domination. European nations used nationalist feelings to expand their empires.
The Balkans - "Powder Keg of Europe"
What and Where Are the Balkans?
The most serious source of nationalist tension in Europe after 1871 was the area called the Balkans.
Geography:
The Balkans was a region
of geographical and ethnic variation comprising modern-day:
· Romania
· Bulgaria
· Albania
· Greece
· Macedonia
· Croatia
· Bosnia-Herzegovina
· Slovenia
· Serbia
· Montenegro
People:
The inhabitants were broadly known as the Slavs.
Ottoman Empire's Control
Important Fact:
A large part of the
Balkans was under the control of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey).
The Ottoman Empire was a Muslim empire
that had ruled this region for centuries. By the 19th century, it was weakening
and losing control.
Why Was the Balkans Region So Explosive?
Three Key Factors
1. Spread of Romantic Nationalism
Ideas of romantic nationalism spread to the Balkans
People wanted independence based on their ethnic and national identity
Folk culture, language, and history became tools for nationalist claims
2. Disintegration of Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire was gradually breaking apart
This created a power vacuum in the region
3. Imperial Rivalry
Major European powers wanted to control the Balkans for strategic and economic reasons
Balkan States Break Away
One by one, each Balkan nationality declared independence from the Ottoman Empire.
They based their claims for independence on:
· Nationality and history
· Ethnic and linguistic identity
· Cultural distinctiveness
However, this created new problems:
· Balkan states were jealous of each other
· Each hoped to gain more territory at the expense of others
· Constant conflicts between newly independent states
The "Great Powers" and Balkan Crisis
Who Were the Great Powers?
Four major European powers had intense rivalry in the Balkans:
1. Russia - Wanted to protect Slavic peoples and expand influence
2. Germany - Sought economic and political control
3. England (Britain) - Wanted to protect trade routes
4. Austro-Hungary - Feared Slavic nationalism in its own empire
What Did They Want?
Each power was keen on:
Countering the hold of other powers over the Balkans
Extending its own control over the area
Using Balkan nationalist movements for their own benefit
Imperial Rivalries During This Period
Intense rivalry among European powers over:
Trade and markets
Colonies in Asia and Africa
Naval and military might
These rivalries were very evident in the way the Balkan problem unfolded.
Series of Balkan Wars
The competition among European powers and conflicts among Balkan states led to a series of wars in the region.
Balkan Wars:
· Countries fought over territory
· Major powers supported different sides
· Each war increased tensions further
· The region became known as the "Powder Keg of Europe" - ready to explode
Nationalism + Imperialism = World War I (1914)
The Final Disaster
Nationalism, aligned with imperialism, led Europe to disaster in 1914.
How Did World War I Start?
The complex web of alliances, imperial rivalries, and nationalist tensions in
the Balkans finally led to the First
World War.
Trigger Event:
The assassination of the Austrian Archduke in Sarajevo (Bosnia) in 1914 sparked the war,
but the real causes
were:
· Intense nationalist feelings
· Imperial competition
· Alliance systems
· Arms race
· Balkan conflicts
Quick Revision Table
|
Aspect |
Details |
Result |
|
Late 19th Century Nationalism |
Became narrow, intolerant |
Led to conflicts between nations |
|
Balkans Region |
Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Serbia, etc. |
Most explosive region in Europe |
|
Ottoman Empire |
Controlled Balkans; gradually weakening |
Balkan states broke away one by one |
|
Great Powers |
Russia, Germany, England, Austro-Hungary |
Competed for control of Balkans |
|
Imperial Rivalries |
Trade, colonies, naval power |
Increased tensions dramatically |
|
World War I |
1914 |
Result of nationalism + imperialism |
“The Age of Revolutions: 1830–1848 – Class 10 History Notes”
Summary Points
By late 19th century, nationalism became narrow and intolerant
European powers manipulated nationalist aspirations for imperialist aims
Balkans = most serious source of nationalist tension after 1871
Balkans included Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, etc.
Inhabitants broadly known as Slavs
Ottoman Empire controlled large part of Balkans; gradually breaking apart
Romantic nationalism spread + Ottoman disintegration = explosive situation
Balkan states declared independence but were jealous of each other
Four great powers (Russia, Germany, England, Austro-Hungary) competed for control
Intense rivalries over trade, colonies, and military power
Series of Balkan Wars increased tensions
Nationalism + Imperialism = World War I (1914)
Anti-imperial
movements in colonized countries were also nationalist.
MCQ Questions
1. The most serious source of nationalist
tension in Europe after 18711871
was:
A. Scandinavia
B. The Balkans
C. Iberian Peninsula
D. Britain
Answer:
B
2. A large part of the Balkans was under
the control of which empire?
A. Russian Empire
B. British Empire
C. Ottoman Empire
D. German Empire
Answer:
C
3. The inhabitants of the Balkans were
broadly known as:
A. Celts
B. Slavs
C. Latins
D. Teutons
Answer:
B
4. Which of the following was NOT one of
the “Great Powers” deeply involved in Balkan affairs (as per NCERT)?
A. Russia
B. Germany
C. England (Britain)
D. Japan
Answer:
D
5. The Balkans became an explosive region
mainly because:
A. It had no rivers and no agriculture
B. Romantic nationalism spread and the Ottoman Empire was disintegrating
C. Europe had no interest in the region
D. All Balkan people spoke the same language and had no disputes
Answer:
B
6. Balkan states became jealous and
hostile mainly because:
A. They wanted to stop trade completely
B. Each state wanted to gain more territory at the expense of others
C. They wanted to rejoin the Ottoman Empire
D. They had no national feelings
Answer:
B
7. European powers were interested in
controlling the Balkans mainly to:
A. Promote world peace without any benefit
B. Extend their own power and counter rival powers
C. Stop industrial development in Europe
D. End all trade in Europe
Answer:
B
8. By the last quarter of the 19th
century, nationalism in Europe often became:
A. More peaceful and fully democratic everywhere
B. Narrow, intolerant, and a cause of conflict
C. Completely absent from politics
D. Only a cultural festival idea
Answer:
B
9. Nationalism, when closely linked with
imperialism, ultimately led Europe to:
A. A single European republic
B. Economic equality for all nations
C. A major disaster in 19141914
D. The end of all wars permanently
Answer:
C
10.
The
“Powder Keg of Europe” refers to:
A. France
B. The Balkans
C. Switzerland
D. Netherlands
Answer:
B
Model Exam Answers
Q1: Why did nationalist tensions emerge in the Balkans?
Answer:
The Balkans was the most serious source of nationalist tension in Europe after
1871. It was a region of geographical and ethnic variation comprising
modern-day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro, whose inhabitants were
broadly known as Slavs.
A large part of the Balkans was under Ottoman Empire control. The spread of romantic nationalism in the Balkans, together with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, made this region very explosive. One by one, Balkan nationalities declared independence based on nationality and history.
However, Balkan states were jealous of each other and each hoped to gain more territory at the expense of others. Additionally, major European powers - Russia, Germany, England, and Austro-Hungary - had intense rivalries. Each power was keen on countering others' hold over the Balkans and extending its own control. This led to a series of wars in the region and finally World War I in 1914.
Q2: How did nationalism become a narrow creed with limited ends?
Answer:
By the last quarter of the 19th century, nationalism no longer maintained its
liberal-democratic character. Nationalist groups became intolerant of each
other and engaged in wars. Major European powers manipulated nationalist
aspirations of subject peoples to further their own imperialist aims.
Nationalism, aligned with imperialism, led to intense rivalries over trade,
colonies, and military might, ultimately causing World War I in 1914.
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