Second World War: Origins, Key Events, and Legacy
Causes and Sides of the Second World War
Causes of the War
The main causes of the war were:
- Dissatisfaction with the peace treaties: Germany lost about 15% of its territory after the Treaty of Versailles, while Italy only received a portion of the territories promised. This caused resentment.
- Consequences of the Great Depression: States adopted protectionist economic policies (reducing imports) to combat unemployment. This led to rivalry between countries, and totalitarian regimes tried to solve these
Imperialism: Causes and Colonial Organization
Imperialism and Its Causes: European Dominance
The Second Industrial Revolution transformed the economies of Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. European dominance expanded globally, leading to the occupation of territories in Africa and Asia and the establishment of colonial empires. This settlement involved the economic exploitation of resources and political control over these lands.
Causes of Colonialism
Colonialism was driven by economic motivations, along with political
Read MoreWorld War I: Policies, Consequences, and March to War
The Policies and Treaties After WWI
With the war’s great empires disappeared in Europe: the Russian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the German Empire, and the Ottoman (Turk) rule. Respecting the principles of Wilson, new nations were created to satisfy nationalist aspirations: Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Hungary. In 1928, 28 European states had at least two parliamentary democracies.
The Consequences of WWI
Population Implications
Estimates suggest
Read MoreSpanish Legal History: From Las Partidas to the Constitutions
The Siete Partidas (Seven-Part Code) addressed various legal domains:
- Questions of a civil nature about people, such as marriage, guardianship, serfs, servants, or vassalage (Partida IV).
- Merchant traffic, contracts, loans, and debts (Partida V).
- Inheritance rights (Partida VI).
- Criminal law (Partida VII).
Las Partidas was drafted by a commission of jurists (or by the Royal Chancellery). King Alfonso X likely indicated the text’s purpose and matters to be addressed, reviewing and amending the commission’
Read MoreSpain Under Philip II: Conflicts, Economy, and Administration
The international political idea was the defense of Catholicism and the superiority of the Empire in Europe.
Military Campaigns and Conflicts
1577: The last crusade against Spain’s armed Turks. The alliance of Rome and Venice defeated the Turkish navy at the Battle of Lepanto, but this did not completely block Turkish activity in the Mediterranean.
1566: Revolt of Flanders. Philip II made no concessions to the Protestants. The rebels managed to get help from French and German Protestant princes, and
Read MoreEvolution of European States: From Feudalism to Liberalism
The Formation of European States
The state, as a political and institutional complex within a defined territory, capable of effectively producing standards, using public force, and applying legal coercion on individuals or society under its jurisdiction, is not a new invention, nor is it exclusively European. These features are present in ancient civilizations. Throughout history, states have risen and fallen in diverse locations such as Byzantium, pre-Columbian America, and China.
During the sixteenth
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