Balkans
The area of Balkan includes modern-day Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. Balkan was majorly under the control of the ottoman empire. The spread of the idea of romantic nationalism along with the disintegration of the Ottoman empire made this region explosive.
Gradually European nationalists broke away from the control of the ottomans and declared themselves independent. Their claim of independence was based on the idea of nationality and they used their history as a reference to prove that they had been independent earlier.
Balkan as an area of Intense Conflict
- The most serious effect of nationalist tension was seen in the area of Balkan as it was a geographically and ethnically diverse area hence clashes of ideas were frequent there.
- As the people of the Balkans were trying to define their territory and independence they were also trying to gain other’s territory which later lead to serious conflict.
- The conflict got amplified and the problem became complex when big European power rivalry got involved over trade, naval, military and colonial control. Russia, Germany, England and Austro-Hungary started countering each other’s control over the Balkan which caused a series of wars and thus led to the first world war in 1914.
Nationalism and Imperialism – Chapter 1 CBSE Class 10 History
The French revolution that started in the late eighteenth century created a sense of collective identity and promoted nationalism for the noble purpose of creating a democratic nation where fundamental rights would be practised and human rights would be given top priority.