Chapter 19- Internal Troubles, External Threats (E.C.)

In the 19th century Europe's age of global expansion took place. Europe basically was the center of the economic world and the country attracted many people. Countries such as India, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands were considered European states. This diminished the independence of China, the Ottoman Empire, and Persia. Europe's global expansion was HUGE and held a lot of weight on the rest of world. The Industrial Revolution gave Europe a big advantage to its expansion because that is where it took place. Many many countries were dependent on Europe for goods and services. This led to economic needs to become larger than usual. Goods and services were needed throughout the whole country such as bananas from Central America and cocoa and palm oil from West Africa. Often times Europe was not selling its own products. It manufactured goods that their own people were unable to buy due to it not being affordable. On the other hand, European investors found it a lot more beneficial to invest their money in other countries abroad then at home. In 1914 countries such as Europe, North America, and Australia were equally invested in 3.7 billion pounds of sterling along with Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Imperialism also took place in Europe. It was particularly popular in the late nineteenth century because of the growth of mass nationalism. Europe's competitive political system became even more competitive due to the unification of Italy and Germany which therefore made it difficult for colonies and economic concessions in Asia and Africa. Many invents took place in the nineteenth century along with the global expansion of Europe.