Quiz 2 - What caused the Great War 1914? Balkans
1) What have Historians said about the causes of the Great War? Give 2 different interpretations. Up to 2
bonus points if you can name 2 historians. In the immediate years after the war, victorious powers blamed
Germany (War Guilt Clause) but in 1930’s opinions began to change and there was a view that there was a
shared responsibility (Lloyd George). 2 Historians in 40’s and 60’s who unearthed evidence to support view
Germany most to blame were Albertini and Fischer. 2 marks plus 2 bonus points for named historians
2) Name 4 different ethnic groups who lived in Bosnia? Serbs, Croats, Muslims, Hungarians, Slovenes 4 marks
3) What were the 3 Empires that bordered the Balkans? Austria Hungary, Ottoman and Russia. 3 marks
4) Why were the Balkans of interest to the 3 Empires during the late 19th and early 20th Century? AH – Empire
in North being squeezed as Germany grew more powerful. Saw Balkans as opportunity to reassert itself and
build its reputation up. Also did not like the emergence of Serbian nationalism - might spread ideas that
would threaten unity of AH Empire. Ottomans had a lot of trouble keeping hold of its territory in Balkans –
lost Bosnia to AH and wanted to save some pride. Russia – wanted to avenge humiliations in the past e.g.
AH getting Bosnia. Did not want another Empire getting stronger. Also closely linked ethnically/culturally to
Serbs. Saw great opportunity to gain warm water ports and access to med. 6 marks (2 for each Empire
explained).
5) What does Pan Slavism mean? All slavs – many extreme nationalist slavs in Balkans and Russia wanted to
unite slavs under one Slavic nation from Poland in the North of Europe to the South in the Balkans. 2 marks
6) The next 3 questions were asked in last quiz but did not score highly – hopefully will now! What territory
did Austria Hungary take over in 1908 and who did they take it from? Bosnia Herzegovina from Ottoman
Empire (Turkey). 2 marks.
7) Which countries formed the Balkan League in 1912 and who did they declare war on? Who won? Serbia,
Bulgaria, Montenegro and Greece formed the league and declared war on Ottoman Empire to gain
territories for themselves. They succeeded. 3 marks
8) Why was Austria concerned at the success of the Balkan league in 1912? They feared that Serbia would
become more ambitious and that they may turn their attentions to Austria Hungary’s territories is Bosnia
Herzegovina. 3 marks.
Total 25 (27 with bonus mark for Q 1)