Late 19th and early 20th-century Europe saw the unfolding of socio-political and economic situations that set the stage for the First World War, and eventually led to the Second World War.
This textbook offers detailed analyses along with a comprehensive historiography for each of the following topics:
• Theories of nationalism and the processes by which new nation-states were carved out • Nationalist aspirations of Germany, Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire/Ottoman Empire • Theories of imperialism and imperialist rivalries • Debates on the causes and impact of the First World War • The Russian revolutions of 1905 and 1917 • Fascism and its origins • Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany • Origins of the Second World War • Cultural transformation of Europe: photography, radio and cinema, movements of art and architecture and national art galleries; and institutions of knowledge: exhibitions, museums/archives
History of Modern Europe, 1850–1939 follows the latest NEP 2020 History syllabus, and caters to the urgent need for an authoritative textbook that will help students explore these varied topics methodically and chronologically.
Replete with interesting photographs, maps, and an extensive bibliography, this book is recommended reading for all undergraduate students and IAS aspirants.
List of Figures, Tables and Maps Preface
1. Nationalism
2. The Unification of Italy Background • The Story of Unification • Historiography
3. The Unification of Germany Origins • Rise of Nationalism in Germany • The Schleswig-Holstein Question • The Luxembourg Crisis • The Franco-Prussian War • Bismarck: An Assessment • Germany after Unification
4. The Eastern Question: Nationalist Aspirations in the Ottoman Empire Background • The Eastern Question • The Balkan Peninsula Terrain • Balkan Crisis in the Early 19th Century • Balkan Crisis in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries • Analysing the Turbulent Flux of Balkan Nationalism
5. Imperialism Imperialism before the 19th Century • The Age of Imperialism, the 19th Century • Theories of Imperialism
6. Alliances and Alignments: Prelude to the First World War Bismarck’s System of Alliances • Britain Steps out of its Splendid Isolation • The Fashoda Crisis and the Entente Cordiale • Anglo-Russian Rivalry turns into the Anglo-Russian Convention • Fluid Alignments and Italy’s Trepidation
7. The First World War Long-term Causes of the First World War • Russia sides with Serbia • England joins France and Russia against Germany • The System of Secret Alliances • Imperialism • Militarism • Nationalism • Newspaper and Press • Other Causes • Historians Discuss War Guilt
8. Revolution in Russia Conditions in Imperial Russia • Revolutionary Trends • Russian Intelligentsia and the Formation of Political Parties • The Emancipation of Serfs • The Revolution of 1905 • The Revolutions of 1917 • Interpreting the Russian Revolution
9. Fascism
10. Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany Fascist Italy • Nazi Germany
11. The Second World War: Analysing its Causes The Versailles Treaty • Anglo-French Differences • Hitler’s Measures • Policy of Appeasement • Historians’ Interpretation
12. Cultural Transformation in Europe: 1850–1939 Creation of a New Public Sphere • Print Culture in the 19th Century • Mass Education and Extension of Literacy in 19th-century Europe • Schools of Painting • Institutions of Knowledge
Bibliography Index