How did events in the Balkans lead to a crisis between the Great Powers

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The Near East Crisis

• How did events in the Balkans lead to a crisis
  between the Great Powers?

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Background The Ottoman Empire

• The Ottoman Empire had once been a great power.
• At its height in 1683, its borders stretched from
  Europe, including the Balkans into Asia Minor
  and across parts of North Africa

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But by the end of the19th Century it was the
sick man of Europe

• Ruling such a diverse range of peoples Slavs,
  Turks was proving difficult.
• The co-existence of many different races and
  religions, Muslim and Christian, was a source of
  great tension which often sparked bitter
  uprisings.
• What problems could arise if the of the sick man
  of Europe actually died?
• Any solutions to this problem?

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The Ottoman Empire by 1870 What was at stake?
What was up for grabs?
Control of European Turkey (includes Bulgaria
and Bosnia).
Important trade routes of Black Sea and Straits
of Constantinople leading to Mediterranean Sea
Access to Suez Canal and Persian Gulf
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Germany

• Having consolidated your position after the
  Franco-Prussian War, you are now emerging as a
  dominant European power.
• However, you are concerned about potential
  threats to your power most notably from France,
  with its continued desire for ravanche, and
  also from growing friction between Russia,
  Austria-Hungary over the fate of the Balkans.
• Your geographical position poses a significant
  threat, sandwiched as you are between other great
  European powers what would be the outcome of an
  alliance between France and Russia? or France and
  Austria-Hungary??

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Russia

• In recent years, your attention has increasingly
  focused on the Balkans.
• As leader of the Orthodox Church, you are morally
  obliged to protect the Christian Slavs currently
  ruled there by Muslim Turks.
• Within your own country, there is much sympathy
  for the ideas of Pan-Slavism or Slav
  nationalism currently brewing in the Balkans.
  The crumbling Ottoman Empire also provides
  tempting opportunities to expand your territorial
  control of the Black Sea and Straits of
  Constantinople.

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Great Britain

• Bismarck commented that England should take the
  lead in the Eastern Question.
• It is certainly true that you are concerned by
  the possible growth of Russian influence over the
  Balkans and Constantinople. This could alter the
  balance of trading power in the Mediterranean,
  Black Sea and, by access to the Suez Canal, the
  wider world!
• Another concern is Germanys growing industrial
  and military power since unification in 1871.

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Austria-Hungary

• Your main concern in the growing spirit of
  Pan-Slavism or Slav Nationalism in the Balkans,
  bordering Austria-Hungary. This could undermine
  the stability of your own empire.
• The biggest threat comes from Russia, whom you
  are sure has expansionist plans for the Balkans
  and is encouraging the Slavs in the region.

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Situation 1 Initial thoughts?

• Any ideas about how you might make your own
  position in Europe more secure? Who do you see as
  potential allies or threats?

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Outcome 1

• After a series of positive meetings between the
  German Kaiser, Habsburg (Austro-Hungarian)
  Emperor and Tsar of Russia, the THREE EMPERORS
  LEAGUE (Dreikaiserbund) was formed in 1873.
• Under this vague alliance, the three powers
  pledged to consult each other over issues that
  might affect peace and stability.

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Situation 2 The Eastern Crisis of 1875-6

• Tensions with Turkish rule erupted in 1875-76
  with a series of demonstrations in Bosnia and
  Herzegovina which then spread to Bulgaria.

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Outcome 2

• Both Russia and Austria-Hungary pledged to honour
  the terms of the Dreikaiserbund, but the mood was
  tense particularly in Russia
• At this stage no other powers became involved in
  war.

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Situation 3 1876 The Bulgarian atrocities

• According to reports, in 1876 the Turks massacred
  over 10,000 Bulgarians.
• News of the terrible atrocities carried out
  against Balkan Christians spread throughout
  Europe. Russia faced pressure from the press and
  clergy to aid the Christian Slavs.
• However, Russia also faced economic problems
  after a series of bad harvests.

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Outcome 3
Outcome 3 Russian victory and The Treaty of San
Stephano
The signing of the treaty of San Stephano.

• Russia declared war on Turkey in April 1877 and
  by 1878 had decisively beaten the Turks.
• By the terms of the Treaty of San Stephano in
  March 1878 European Turkey was reduced to small
  unconnected territories by the creation of a
  Greater Bulgaria, under Russian occupation for
  two years, while Russia herself made some useful
  territorial gains.

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Situation 4 The Congress of Berlin, 1878

• In response to international outrage at the terms
  of the Treaty of San Stephano, the great powers
  agreed to meet in Berlin to thrash out a new
  agreement.

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Outcome 4 Results of the Berlin Congress (see
pages 22-23)

• Greater Bulgaria was divided into three
• the north part, Bulgaria was granted complete
  independence under Russian supervision.
• the southern part was named Eastern Rumelia and
  was given self-government under Turkish control.
• The third part, called Macedonia, was returned to
  Turkish rule.
• Russia recovered Bessarabia, which she had lost
  to Rumania during the Crimean War
• Russia also acquired Batum, a valuable port on
  the eastern edge of the Black Sea, from Turkey.
• Austria-Hungary gained control of Bosnia from the
  Ottoman Empire.
• Britain gained control of the Meditteranean
  island of Cyprus and claimed the right to send
  any warships into the Black Sea when necessary.
• The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire agreed to a
  series of reforms within his country.

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Bessarabia (Russia)
Bulgaria (independent under Russian supervision)
Eastern Rumelia (independent under Turkish
control)
Bosnia (given to Austria-Hungary)
Macedonia (returned to Turkish rule)