lecture recording on 20 February 2025 at 10.28.55 AM

Causes of World War I

• Nationalism:

  • Congress of Vienna aimed to suppress nationalistic ideas to maintain empires and monarchies.

  • Rise of nationalist rebellions despite opposition; significant example is Greece gaining independence in the 1820s.

  • Ottoman Empire's decline leads to loss of territories in the Balkan Peninsula, setting the stage for future conflicts.

• Annexation Issues:

  • As empires disintegrate, their territories are annexed by other powers.

  • Annexation serves as a critical spark for World War I.

The Nationalistic Movements in Italy

• Early 1800s: Desire for Italian nationhood.

  • Northern Italy under Austrian control, Southern Italy controlled by Spain.

• Giuseppe Mazzini:

  • Founder of Young Italy, advocating for independence from both Austria and Spain.

  • Mazzini’s activism leads to his exile but keeps the movement alive.

• Camilo di Cavour:

  • Count from Northern Italy who recognizes the need for a powerful ally.

  • Forms alliance with Vittorio Emmanuel II, king of Piedmont-Sardinia.

• Giuseppe Garibaldi:

  • Leads a parallel revolutionary movement in Southern Italy.

  • Proceeds to unify Northern and Southern movements, successfully overcoming both Austrian and Spanish rule.

• Results:

  • Unification results in the establishment of Italy as a monarchy rather than a democratic state.

The German Unification Movement

• Background:

  • Germany's complex landscape of independent German-speaking territories post-Holy Roman Empire.

  • Prussia seeks to unify Germanic lands despite cultural differences (Protestant vs. Catholic).

• Wilhelm I:

  • King of Prussia who desires a unified German nation-state.

  • Appoints Otto von Bismarck as Prime Minister.

• Otto von Bismarck:

  • Employs Realpolitik to achieve goals of German unification.

  • Prioritizes military strength and modernization as tools for achieving unity.

• Wars to Unify:

  • Bismarck creates conflicts (notably the Franco-Prussian War) to rally support for unification.

  • Manipulates public perception to frame France as the enemy, maximizing fervor among German speakers.

• Conclusion:

  • Bismarck's maneuvers lead to the proclamation of the German Empire under Wilhelm I.

Nationalism and Zionism

• Theodore Herzl:

  • Observed rampant antisemitism in Europe; proposed the need for a Jewish homeland.

  • Early Zionist ideas were not strictly focused on Palestine, considering other locations as well.

• Emergence of Zionism:

  • Concept establishes a nationalist movement for Jewish self-determination and safety.

  • Significant events like the Holocaust will later push for establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine after World War II.

• Anticipated Conflicts:

  • The backdrop for tensions between Jewish and non-Jewish populations in future conflicts, relevant to current geopolitical situations.