Question

How did the Balkan issue become one of the major factors responsible for the First World War?

Answer 1

Instructions:

This is a 3 marks question. There should be at least 3 points here. Talk about the Balkans being under Ottoman control, but then after the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire it became unstable as many Slavic nations gained independence. This eventually led to conflicts about resources, which ultimately resulted in the First World War.

Solution:
The Balkans were originally under Ottoman control. However, with the spread of nationalisistic ideas and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, the Balkan region became highly unstable. Different Slavic nations started their struggle to gain independence, making the region primed for major conflicts. The Balkan issue became a source of contention for many major European powers as they clashed over trade, colonies, and military might. These clashes led to a series of wars and continuous unrest which ultimately resulted in the First World War.