Colonialism
was the process of territorial expansion in order to get political control and
economic exploitation of new territories. Imperialism was the expansive policy carried
out mainly by some european countries.
In the
last third of the 19th century the great colonial empires were built as a
result of the new economic, political, social and ideological needs. The most
important colonial powers were United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy,
USA and Japan.
The
consequences of Imperialism were economic, political, demografic, social and
cultural.
The World War I took place between 1914 and 1918
and was fought by the Central Powers (the Triple Alliance) against the
Allied Powers (the Triple Entente). The Central Powers were led
by Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey. The Allied Powers were led by Great
Britain, France and Russia. The
causes of WWI were based on economic
and territorial rivalries, nationalisms and colonial conflicts.
The
Great War developed along the following phases: the war of movements (1914),
the trench warfare (1915-1916), the crisis of 1917 and the end of the war
(1918).
Aftermath:
The effects of the WWI were very important: millions of human loss, material
destruction, social agitation and political changes (fall of the great empires
and creation of new countries).
