God Save Us All - Part Two
The World at a Glance - 1871-1875
Eastern Europe
The Russian Empire
Russia had always stood out from the rest of Europe. For one, it was isolated by mountains, vast forests and by the leaders who cared more about their well being than that of their people or foreign interests. Russia’s population was titanic; easily the largest in Europe, but almost all of it was rural peasants, poorer than any one group in Europe. Industrialization was extremely slow in developing in Russia. When it came down to it, Tsar Alexander II felt there was little need for much industry. He had people, and they needed food. That was that.
Tsar Alexander II, Emperor of Russia.
However, it’s not like Russia had remained the same since Napoleon I’s time. No, Tsar Alexander II was actually a reformer. When he took over the crown in 1855, he immediately changed a great many things. In 1861 he emancipated the roughly 20 Million serfs. He also enacted social and political reforms. In 1864 most local government in the European part of Russia was organized into provincial and district zemstva which were made up of representatives of all classes and were responsible for local schools, public health, roads, prisons, food supply, and other concerns. In 1870 elected city councils, or duma, were formed. Dominated by property owners and constrained by provincial governors and the police, the zemstva and duma raised taxes and levied labor to support their activities.*
The Tsar enacted reforms all over Russia, but this still was not enough to fix the backwards nation, in comparison to the other European Powers. Russia’s military was massive, but poorly equipped, led, organized, and trained. Russia, it seemed, would never command the success it once did until their military was on par with those of France, Britain, Prussia and even Austria.
However, Russia was still a bear, large and dangerous.
The Kingdom of Italy
Italy, as the up and coming power in Europe, was a bustling hub of growth. She was barely 10 years old, but you couldn’t tell by looking at her. The Italian people had felt united for years before official unification. Through their customs, heritage, foods, everything. The Kingdom’s alliance with the powerful France seemed to validate Italy as a new power in Europe. Her prestige, and thirst for an empire, was growing.
Italian Archeticture, along with Coloinists, Began to Arrive on the Horn of Africa by 1875.
At this point in time, only Africa remained wild and unclaimed. The Portuguese had been the first to settle here, along the Cape Coast and other areas of Southern Africa. However, the British and French, who were far and away the continent’s leading powers, had driven them out by 1800. The Italians sent expeditions to the Horn of Africa, to set up colonies and begin trading with the natives. Italian companies also began to take an interest in the heavily Ottoman-influenced areas of Tunisia and Libya and the trade that the Arabs there could offer. Needless to say, the Ottomans did not take a liking to this one bit.
Italy’s military was nothing for King Victor Emmanuel to be proud of. Her armies were a group of poorly trained peasants who had joined the Army to mainly make some money for their poor families. Some were attracted to adventure, and these became the elite Alpinis. However, for the most part, the average Italian soldier had little discipline and even less in the way of training and equipment. The French helped with this, sending the latest weapons at their disposal for use by the Italians.
At this time, Austria-Hungary and Italy had become even more heated rivals. The alliance had angered the Austrians with France, seeing as Italy was their oldest enemy. Italy and Austria began a naval arms race around 1873.
Italy's and Austria's Fleets had Clashed in 1866, Would They Clash Again?
Italy was intent on having control of the Mediterranean, and would not relent until her fleet was the largest, most powerful in this area. Austria followed suit, not necessarily to control the Mediterranean, but to make sure Italy did not gain an upper hand on her in any way.
Britain and France were not the only two rivals building up their empires, economies and militaries.
The Ottoman Empire
The Sick Man of Europe was the sickest he’s ever been. Their territories in the Balkans were in complete turmoil. Slavs, Muslims, Christians, Serbs, Croats, Bulgarians, Greeks. They all wanted out, and weren’t afraid to use the sword to do so.
This, however, was not the only problem facing Sultan Abdülâziz. In 1873, there was a major crop failure, and thousands starved to death. Debt was piling up, with no way to pay it. The Sultan had meant well, but it had cost too much.
If Abdülâziz accomplished one good feat, it was the buildup of the Ottoman Navy. By 1875, it was the third largest in the world, behind only the British and French. This navy helped patrol the Empire’s coasts, and fend off any further Italian expansion into the Mediterranean or Russian expansion into the Black Sea. None of this was important though, because all this cost the Ottomans millions of dollars in debt. Abdülâziz had also spent large sums of money on lavish palaces. Instead of helping the Empire industralize and reform along the lines of the west, he held large parties. He was the Louis XVI of the Middle East.
The Eastern Question, when the Ottoman Empire would fall, still hung in the air, and would for decades to come.
* Wikipedia.