The First World War: Causes and Alliances 1914-1918

The First World War, 1914-1918

International Relations Between 1870 and 1914

Bismarckian Systems, 1873-1890

In foreign policy, Bismarck, the German Chancellor, set the following objectives:

  • Germany should achieve hegemony in Europe.
  • Maintain cordial relations with the United Kingdom, which would show dominance outside of Europe.
  • Internationally isolate France.
  • Avoid confrontation between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans.

Bismarckian systems were threefold:

Bismarckian System 1, 1873

It was signed:

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Post-WWII World: Rise of Superpowers and Cold War Dynamics

Introduction

At the end of World War II, the world was dominated by two powers: the United States and the Soviet Union. Bloc politics led to the alignment of many countries in the world in one way or another. The Soviet Union became the strength of the field, exerting its influence over vast territories.

1. United States: Leader of the Capitalist World

1.1. The Assertion of American Power

The prevalence of the U.S. rested on three pillars:

  • The technological and economic superiority.
  • The political prestige.
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Roman Empire: From Republic to Principate and Golden Age

The Creation of the Roman Empire 44 B.C.E – 284 C.E

From Republic to Empire, 44 B.C.E – 14 C.E

**Augustus** created his new political system gradually. He succeeded because he reinvented government, guaranteed the army’s support, did not hesitate to use violence to win power, and built political legitimacy by communicating an image of himself as a dedicated leader and patron.

Civil War, 44-27 B.C.E

Members of the social elite competing for power after **Caesar’s** assassination in 44 B.C.E. started
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Spanish Empire Under Habsburg Rule: 16th-17th Centuries

The Spanish Empire Under the Habsburgs

Shifting Focus to a More Hispanic Monarchy

This period saw a move away from European possessions, equipping the Spanish monarchy with a more Hispanic character. Philip II’s closest associates were mostly Spaniards, and international politics and royal marriages increasingly took into account the interests of Castile, which financed most of his policies. Philip II’s foreign policy was inspired by the same principles as his father’s: the defense of Catholicism

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Baroque Architecture: Italy, France, and Spain

1. Introduction: Urban and General Characteristics, Baroque Architecture in Italy, Bernini and Borromini, The Palace of Power: Versailles

Introduction to Baroque: The seventeenth century in Europe was a time of general crisis. After the Council of Trent (1545-1648), the final split of Christendom occurred into two rival blocs: Protestants and Catholics. This art was developed through two currents: the Church and the European powers. By the first third of the eighteenth century, the Rococo style appeared,

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Spanish History: Monarchy Crisis to Civil War (1898-1939)

The Decline of the Monarchy and the Rise of the Republic (1898-1939)

The Decline of the *Turno* (1898-1917)

The Conservative Reformist Stage

The reign of Alfonso XIII (1902) began with a crisis caused by the disaster of 1898. This led the dynastic parties to initiate reforms to regenerate Spanish political life. While *Turno* parties were losing influence, the opposition became stronger:

  • The Republicans increased their electoral influence.
  • Catalan nationalist groups achieved a broad victory in 1907.
  • Socialism
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