Question

With reference to the Two Major World wars in the 20th century, answer the following questions:

Explain briefly the causes of World War I with reference to Nationalism and Imperialism.

Answer 1

Causes of World War I with reference to Nationalism and Imperialism:

• Militant nationalism was one of the major reasons of the First World War. It included building a huge army and appointing a powerful class of military and naval officers. For example, France wanted the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine back from Germany, and Serbia wanted all the Balkan states to unite. This created tensions among the other nations.
• France and Britain build large colonial empires in Asia and Africa. Many other nations like Germany, Italy and Japan competed with other powers to establish their colonies. The building of colonies became essential at this time as they not only provided raw materials and minerals for industries but also had great potential to become markets for European-manufactured goods.
• Colonies also added to the power and prestige of the European nations. This led to clash of interests among these countries. This filled the political atmosphere of Europe with hatred, fear and tension.