The Rise and Fall of Empires: From Imperialism to Global War
Imperialism and the Road to War
The Rise of Imperialism (1875-1914)
From the turn of the 20th century, expeditions explored the Earth’s surface, culminating in the arrival at the Poles in the early 1900s. The Industrial Revolution empowered certain industrialized nations to exert control over vast regions of the world. Imperialism, a historical phenomenon occurring between 1875 and 1914, saw European powers, along with the U.S. and Japan, embark on conquests, primarily in Africa and Asia.
Causes of
Read More20th Century Europe: Wars, Revolutions, and Cultural Shifts
1. Imperialism and Colonialism
As you can see from this map, since the sixteenth century, Spain and other European countries had colonies. We often hear about this stage as “exercising economic control over territories.” While colonies existed and were studied in another unit, the colonization of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries differs from that of the modern age, as explained below:
Early Modern Colonization vs. Late 19th/Early 20th Century Colonization
- Ancient Roots: Greece
- Starring
A Journey Through History: From Ancient Civilizations to the Liberal Doctrine
Ancient Civilizations
Old age began with the appearance of writing and ended with the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Urban civilization developed along the 4th millennium BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia. The step from village to city is known as the urban revolution. Classical civilization is considered to be Greek and Roman. In Greece, they organized into polis, or city-states. The Roman era had independent, centralized organizations. In Athens, democracy was a highlight. In Rome, the Republic and
Read MoreThe Restoration in Spain: Monarchy, Dynastic Parties, and Caciquismo
The Restoration in Spain
The Monarchy
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo aimed to establish a stable political regime inspired by the British parliamentary system and Doctrinaire Liberalism. This model granted significant power to the King within a constitutional monarchy. Cánovas viewed the monarchy as integral to Spanish history. The 1876 Constitution outlined the King’s role, including sharing legislative power with the courts, vetoing laws, summoning and dissolving parliament, exercising executive
Read MoreReign of Isabella II: Rise of the Liberal State in Spain
Reign of Isabella II: Creation of the Liberal State
Introduction
The reign of Isabella II (1833-1868) witnessed the creation and consolidation of the liberal state in Spain, transforming the absolute monarchy into a parliamentary system. This transition, part of a broader process of change, accelerated during Isabella’s rule. The backdrop includes the introduction of the New Regime during the War of Independence, its fluctuations under Ferdinand VII, and the ensuing Carlist Wars. The regent María
Read MoreSpanish Second Republic: The Reform Biennium (1931-1933)
The Reform Biennium (1931-1933)
Development
The newly formed government (1931-33) consisted of the politically inexperienced petty bourgeoisie, representing the unified democratic forces opposing the monarchy. This coalition included republicans, nationalists, and socialists. One of their first actions was drafting a new constitution to establish the new political regime. President and head of government, Alcalá Zamora, faced the challenge of addressing Spain’s problems. However, the government’
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