The History of Global Superpowers

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the history of global superpowers.

Empire

A large group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch or sovereign state.

Napoleonic Wars

Conflicts from 1803 to 1815 that reshaped Europe and led to the decline of the French Empire.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. policy established in 1823 asserting influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Treaty of Versailles

A 1919 agreement that reshaped Europe following World War I but imposed harsh terms on Germany.

Cold War

A period of ideological and political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1947 to 1991.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, formed in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

Bipolar world

A global structure dominated by two superpowers, notably during the Cold War.

Unipolar world

A global structure where one superpower dominates, primarily following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Emerging powers

Countries such as China and India that are increasing their economic and political influence on the global stage.

Multipolar world

A global structure characterized by multiple influential powers, as seen with the rise of China, India, and others.