The Balance of Power: Europe, 1492-1914 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first exploration into the New World was certainly a multinational effort; navigators traditionally came from the Italian states and were hired by other nations. Which of the following does *not* match correctly an exploring nation with its primary motives before 1600?

Answer: Portugal - Religion, gold

France and Spain, as leading Catholic nations, sought to spread their religion to the New World, while also gaining leads in trade and gold, respectively. England focused on gaining an edge in trade and did also seek gold (it was believed at the time of original settlement and exploration that America contained rich gold deposits throughout). Portugal, though Catholic, was much more intent on establishing a trade route to the Orient without depending on expensive caravans or foreign intermediaries.

2. Although the decline of Spanish naval supremacy was a gradual process, it can be exemplified by the defeat of the armada in 1588. This defeat foreshadowed the naval ascendency of which other nation?

Answer: Britain

Following the decline of Spain, Britain emerged as the leading naval power. British naval supremacy was further consolidated during the Napoleonic Wars. Britain retained this status until the end of the 19th century, when it was challenged by Germany from about 1897 onwards. (Britain's economic role was challenged earlier, from about 1875 onwards by Germany and the U.S.).

3. The War of the Spanish Succession, the War of the Austrian Succession, and the Seven Years' War all occurred during the 18th century. Which country was the definitive winner in all of them?

Answer: None of these

As a result of the War of the Spanish Succession, the French royalty were removed from the Spanish line of succession, thus preventing a Franco-Spanish union and therefore weakening France's potential. The War of Austrian Succession, though not an official loss for France, was costly and ineffective, and is best considered a victory for Prussia.

The Seven Years' War resulted in France losing nearly its entire western empire to Britain. Therefore, no one nation won all three of the wars.

4. The Seven Years' War has been called the first "world war." Why is this?

Answer: Both of these

It also used relatively large peasant armies for the first time. It was one of the costliest European wars up until its time, mainly because it relied on the strategy of the opposing armies lining up and shooting at each other, using continually improving weaponry.

5. The new political thinking emerging in Europe and its colonies during the late 18th century favored which of the following?

Answer: Liberty and equality

The beliefs led to the American Revolution (1775-1783) and the French Revolution (1789-1799). The use of colonies to house dissenting or oppressed groups had existed since the early 17th century, and cooperation between monarchies did not largely emerge until after the end of the French Revolution.

6. In the first decade of the 19th century, power rapidly concentrated on mainland Europe in the hands of which nation?

Answer: France

Under the leadership of Napoleon, France successfully began a military campaign which overtook most of its neighbors (including Spain, Prussia, and Austria), threatened others (Russia), and took an alliance of all major European powers to halt its advance.

7. In the Congress of Vienna in 1815, European nations sought to do what?

Answer: Consolidate the power of the monarchies to prevent uprisings similar to the French Revolution

In the wake of the French Revolution, European nations aimed to prevent future similar revolutions by creating cooperation between their respective monarchies. In order to do so, it created a "balance of power" between the major powers in Europe in order to ensure that no nation could overtake all the others again.

8. Noticeable reactions against the Congress of Vienna were most prevalent in what year?

Answer: 1848

1848 saw attempted revolutions by a dissatisfied middle and lower class in France, Germany, Italy, the Hapsburg areas (Austria), Poland, and other nations. Britain was the only major western power not affected by the discontent. Other major uprisings also occurred in 1820, when revolutions rocked much of southern Europe (Italy, Greece, and the Balkans, for example) and in 1830, with France, Belgium, and Poland.

9. The greatest alteration of the balance of power occurred with what event?

Answer: The unification of Germany

Although formally acknowledged by the Congress of Vienna, the German Confederation had not been able to function as a European power. Unification led to a serious shift in power on Continental Europe due to the presence of a strong new nation in a key central location. Further, Germany soon rivaled Britain in terms of industrial development.

10. Which of the following was NOT a major cause of World War I?

Answer: Weakening of monarchies and dynasties

The alliances created a network of nations to fight for and against one another should something occur, and were intensified by a growing split between Germany and Britain. Nationalists brought political agitation to domestic affairs for each country and helped spark the war (with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand).

The weakening of dynasties was actually a result of the war; World War I saw the overthrow of four major monarchies: the Hapsburgs, the Romanovs, the Ottomans, and the Hohenzollerns.

Source: Author op47b

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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A brief overview of the shifting concentrations of power and conflicts of Europe, from colonization to World War I.

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