focused timeline

• Mercantilism

Economic policy focused on accumulating wealth, driving European expansion and frequent wars.

• Scramble for Africa

Late 19th-century rush for African colonies, driven by economic and strategic motives.

• Berlin Conference (1884-1885)

Meeting where European nations established rules for colonizing Africa to prevent conflicts.

• Naval Defence Act (1889)

British law ensuring its navy was as powerful as the combined forces of its two largest rivals.

• Treaty of Berlin (1885)

Agreement that regulated European territorial expansion in Africa to avoid direct conflicts.

• Fashoda Incident (1898)

Near-war confrontation between Britain and France over control of Sudan, resolved diplomatically.

• Entente Cordiale (1904)

Agreement between Britain and France settling colonial disputes and improving relations.

• Suez Canal (1869)

Key trade route linking the Mediterranean and Red Sea, leading to British control over Egypt.

• New Imperialism (1871-1914)

Era of aggressive European expansion fueled by nationalism, industrialization, and technological advances.

• White Man’s Burden

Ideological justification for imperialism, claiming Europeans had a duty to civilize non-European societies.

• Social Darwinism

Theory used to justify imperialism, asserting that stronger nations were naturally meant to dominate weaker ones.

• Quinine

Medical advancement enabling Europeans to survive malaria, making deeper colonization in Africa and Asia possible.

• The Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895)

Ended the First Sino-Japanese War, granting Japan control over Taiwan and other territories.

• Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902)

Agreement recognizing Japan’s influence in Asia while securing Britain’s strategic interests.

• Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

Japan’s victory over Russia, solidifying its status as a major world power.

• Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901)

Anti-foreigner uprising in China, suppressed by an international coalition.

• Manchurian Crisis (1931)

Japan’s invasion of Manchuria, leading to international condemnation but little action.

• Great Trek (1835-1840)

Migration of Dutch settlers (Boers) in South Africa away from British rule.

• First Boer War (1880-1881)

Conflict in which the Boers resisted British control, resulting in their temporary independence.

• Second Boer War (1899-1902)

British victory over the Boers, incorporating the Orange Free State and Transvaal into the British Empire.

• Treaty of Versailles (1919)

Ended WWI, imposing harsh penalties on Germany, including territorial losses and reparations.

• League of Nations

International organization created to maintain peace, but weakened by lack of enforcement power.

• Dawes Plan (1924)

U.S.-led initiative restructuring German reparations payments to stabilize its economy.

• Locarno Treaties (1925)

Agreements securing peace and improving European relations, especially with Germany.

• Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

International agreement where nations renounced war as a means of resolving disputes.

• Young Plan (1929)

Reduced Germany’s reparations payments, easing economic strain.

• Great Depression (1929)

Global economic crisis that destabilized political systems and fueled extremist ideologies.

• Appeasement

Policy of making concessions to aggressive nations to avoid war, ultimately failing.

• Successor States

Nations formed after WWI, including Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Hungary.

• Corfu Incident (1923)

Italy bombarded Greece after the murder of four Italians, testing the League of Nations.

• Ruhr Crisis (1923)

French and Belgian troops occupied Germany’s Ruhr region to force reparations payments.

• Treaty of Rapallo (1922)

Agreement between Germany and Russia renouncing territorial claims and fostering cooperation.

• Treaty of Saint-Germain (1919)

Limited Austria’s power, forcing territorial losses and military restrictions.

• Treaty of Trianon (1920)

Reduced Hungary’s territory and weakened its influence.

• Treaty of Neuilly (1919)

Bulgaria lost land and faced military limitations as part of post-WWI settlements.

• Treaty of Sevres (1920)

Restricted Turkey’s power, later revised by the Treaty of Lausanne (1923).

• Treaty of London (1915)

Italy joined the Allies in WWI in exchange for promised territorial gains.

• Hyperinflation in Germany (1923)

Economic crisis due to massive printing of money to pay reparations.

• Washington Naval Conference (1921-1922)

Agreement between major powers to limit naval arms races.

• Genoa Conference (1922)

Failed attempt by European nations to address post-WWI economic issues.

• Treaty of Lausanne (1923)

Revised the Treaty of Sevres, formally recognizing Turkish independence.

• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)

Russia’s withdrawal from WWI, resulting in significant territorial losses.

• War Guilt Clause

Provision in the Treaty of Versailles blaming Germany for WWI.

• Scorched Earth Policy

Tactic used during wars, including the Boer War, destroying land and resources to deny them to the enemy.

• Treaty of Versailles Reparations

Germany was required to pay $6.6 billion, severely impacting its economy.

• Anschluss

The forbidden union between Germany and Austria, later enforced by Nazi Germany in 1938.

• Mukden Incident (1931)

Staged event used by Japan to justify its invasion of Manchuria.

• League of Nations Mandates

Former colonies of defeated nations were placed under League control rather than granted independence.

• Vilna Dispute (1920)

League of Nations failed to resolve Poland’s seizure of Vilna, undermining its credibility.

• KMT & CCP Divide

Nationalists and Communists split after the Purification Movement, shaping China's future conflicts