Troubles+in+The+Balkans

__The Balkans__

- Nationalism is the desire of the people of one nation to govern themselves and keep their way of life. Pan-nationalism is where people of the same the same cultural group want to create a nation over existing boundaries.

- The Turkish Empire had once ruled all over the Balkans (Ottoman Empire). By 1908, it was struggling to hold onto its territories.

- As the Ottoman Empire weakened, groups such as the Serbs, Greeks and Bulgars revolted and est up their own separate nations.

- Balkans (Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania) hoped for freedom from Turkish domination - no success.

- Austria-Hungary was a great rival of the Ottoman's.

- Austria-Hungary was made up a great variety of races, including Slaves, Poles, Italians, Czecks.

- Serbia was the 'Champion of Slav Unity'.

- Austria-Hungary was keen to crush Serbia.

- Bosnia-Herzegovina (Serb Province) annexed by A/H. This increased the number of Slavs in the empire by 1.8 million.



__Activities:__

Answer Qn's 1 - 3 on page 17 (page 3 of the handout).

1. Why were the Balkans known as the 'powder keg'? 2. Why would Serbia have been outraged at the Austrian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina? 3. Describe the 'Bosnian Crisis', using the document and your textbook (pg. 203). 4. What were Russia's motives in being involved in the Balkans?