Part 2 :Eastern Question

• Bulgarian Revolution(1875)


  1. Nationalism grew

  2. Revolutionary activities were planned

  3. To expel the Ottomans from the region
• At the beginning of the uprising


  Bulgars massacred Muslim civilians living there
• The Ottomans retaliated


  With methods of utmost violence, killing women and children and burning whole villages
• European countries criticised the Ottoman Sultan for the atrocities
• The main powers tried to reach some settlement over the future of Bulgaria but failed
• Russia in an alliance with Romania


  1. Launched a campaign against the Ottoman Empire

  2. Made the Sultan sign the Treaty of San Stefano
• The Treaty of San Stefano

  i. Full sovereignty of Serbia, Montenegro and Romania

  ii. Romania to cede Besserabia to Russia and receive Debruja from Turkey.

  iii. The Creation of a new state of Bulgaria (Big Bulgaria) which extended from the Danube to the Aegean.

  • The Treaty was unacceptable to the Powers and England demanded an immediate revision.
• The Congress of Berlin (1878)

  • Bismarck acts as a peace broker
  • Present at his Congress: England, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy, Ottoman Empire, France.
  • The main objective: to settle the Eastern Question
  • Each power carries its main interest
• England - keep Russia out of Mediterranean

  - control in the Eastern Mediterranean basin

  Russia - port in the Mediterranean

  Austria-Hungary - part of Balkans to give her access to the sea

  Italy - a colony in North Africa (Tunisia)

  Germany - no interest in territorial gains but wanted to start the system of alliances

  France - still rising from her defeat and the effects of the Paris Commune
• • A conflict arose between Russia and Austria-Hungary over the Balkan states.
  • Russia and England - conflict
  • Russia is isolated
• During the discussions the Ottoman Empire is completely disregarded
• Conclusion of the Congress of Berlin:

  1. Bulgaria reduced to its original size. Got her independence.

  2. To "protect the Sultan", England acquired Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire.

  3. To please Austria-Hungary, Bismarck helped/supported the claim of Bosnia-Herzegovina to be given as protectorate of Austria-Hungary.

  4. The Ottoman Sultan has to promise to protect the Orthodox religion within the Empire.

  5. Germany - established the Drei Kaiserbund (Three Emperors' League)

  6. Russia kept Besserabia
• The Congress of Berlin symbolised the new status of the German Empire. The Eastern Question was not solved, it was only delayed.
• The Balkan Wars (1900-1913)

  1908: Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina and angered Serbia.

  • The Creation of the Young Turks - a liberal movement built on the spirit of nationalism. They demanded a modern constitution and were prepared to allow Christian subjects equal rights.
  • Thus, revolution broke out in Turkey. Taking advantage of the disorganisation of Constantinople:

  i. Bulgaria proclaimed itself free from any bonds

  ii. Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina

  iii. Greece took Crete

  iv. Italy seized Libya

  v. Serbia and Montenegro demanded a reshuffle of frontiers
• 1912: The Creation of the Balkan League

  • The 'Balkan League' was largely the work of and astute Greek politician, Venizelos. The countries were Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro. They formed this league to expel Turkey from the Balkan peninsula. The excuse to start the war came when Turkey persecuted Christians who lived in Macedonia.
  • First Balkan War - Disunited in home affairs and with the Italian attack barely over, the Turks could do nothing against the combined onslaught of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro. The war was won by the Balkan League.
• • In the peace conference which followed, Turkey was expelled from the Balkan Peninsula except for Istanbul. In the peace conference at London, the victorious powers divided the Ottoman land in the Balkans among themselves.
  • A conflict arose between Serbia and Bulgaria over Macedonia as much of the area was largely inhabitat by Bulgars but in the Treaty it was given to Serbia. Serbia would have consented to handover Macedonia to Bulgaria, if in return it was given Albania. But Austria-Hungary was against this settlement and insisted that Albania should become independent.
• 1913: The Second Balkan War


  1. Bulgaria claimed the part of Macedonia which was under Serbian control

  2. Serbia refused to give it

  3. Bulgaria declared war

  4. Bulgaria was overwhelmed by Serbia, Romania, Greece and the Ottoman Empire
• The Powers did not intervene in both wars except for Austria-Hungary which insisted on the independence of Albania
• Treaty of Bucharest outcomes

  • Turkey got back Adrianople
  • Serbia and Greece were confirmed in the possession of Macedonia
  • Romania gained from Bulgaria some valuable territory on the Black Sea- the Dobruja
  • Bulgaria lost much of what she had gained in the 1st war
• Results of the Second Balkan Wars:

  1. Bulgaria wanted revenge on Serbia, Romania and Greece. Hence, the country aligned with the Central powers during WWI.
  2. Serbia was encouraged by 2 victorious enlargements was ready to challenge Austrian-Hungarian rule over Bosnian Serbs.
  3. Turkey was now at last reduced in Europe to regions racially Turks.
• The Sarajevo Incident (1914)

  • The conflict is between Austria-Hungary and Serbia over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The 2 Balkan wars strengthened Serbia and encouraged her to become more daring in her advances
  • In Serbia there was a nationalistic movement led by a secret organisation known as the Black Hand. This organisation led a number of terroristic attacks in Austrian administration in Bosnia.
  • To calm the situation in the region, the Archduke, future Emperor and his wife decided to pay a visit in Bosnia.
• The Archduke and his wife were driving through the streets of Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia


  28th June, 1914
• Assassination attempt


  1. Cabrinovic threw a bomb

  2. Cabrinovic swallows his poison and jumped into the river

  3. The Archduke saw the bomb coming and threw it off his car

  4. The bomb exploded under the car behind, injuring several people

  5. The police dragged Cabrinovic out of the river

  6. Cabrinovic's cyanide was old and had not worked
• Assassination


  1. The driver realised he had taken a wrong turn and stopped to reverse

  2. Princip could hardly believe his luck and pulling an automatic pistol from the right-hand pocket of his coat, he fired 2 shots

  3. One bullet pierced the Archduke's neck

  4. The other bullet went into Sophie's stomach

  5. They both died

  6. The murderer was jailed and died in an Austrian jail in April 1918