Lernzettel: Map and Global Conflict History Course

Map Midterm 2026 Review Part III - Exam-Oriented Revision Sheet

1. 📌 Essentials

• The map focuses on Africa, Asia, and Europe during 1914 and 1919, highlighting colonial and geopolitical changes.
• The Berlin Conference (1884–85) formal European colonization Africa, disregarding African sovereignty.
• Key causes of WWI: militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism.
• The Treaty of Versailles (1919) imposed harsh penalties on Germany, sowing seeds for WWII.
• Major WWI battles: Somme, Verdun, Gallipoli; introduced tanks, airplanes, poison gas.
• The Russian Revolution (1917) led to Bolshevik rule and the rise of Stalin.
• Japan's modernization via the Meiji Restoration enabled imperial expansion in Asia.
• The scramble for Africa caused artificial borders, ethnic conflicts, and resource exploitation.
• The League of Nations was weak, lacking US support and enforcement power.
• Fascist regimes emerged in Germany (Nazism), Italy (Mussolini), and the USSR (Stalin).

2. 🧩 Key Structures & Components

• Berlin Conference — divided Africa among European powers, ignoring indigenous peoples.
• Spheres of Influence — regions in China under foreign control (Britain, France, Japan).
• Bolsheviks — revolutionary party led by Lenin, overthrew Tsarist regime.
• Meiji Restoration — Japan’s political and economic modernization starting in 1868.
• Major WWI Battles — Somme, Verdun, Gallipoli, characterized by trench warfare and new tech.
• Treaty of Versailles — peace treaty punishing Germany, redrawing European borders.
• League of Nations — international organization aimed at maintaining peace.
• Totalitarian Regimes — Stalin (USSR), Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy).

3. 🔬 Functions, Mechanisms & Relationships

• Imperialism drives competition for colonies, resources, and global influence.
• Berlin Conference established rules for colonization, leading to scramble and exploitation.
• Militarism and alliances (Triple Entente, Central Powers) escalated tensions pre-WWI.
• Assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo triggered WWI, igniting the "powder keg."
• WWI technology (tanks, airplanes, gas) caused unprecedented casualties.
• Treaty of Versailles imposed reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions on Germany.
• Russian Revolution caused a shift from monarchy to communist state, influencing global politics.
• Stalin’s policies (Five Year Plans, collectivization) transformed USSR into a totalitarian industrial power.
• Rise of fascism in Germany and Italy was fueled by economic hardship, nationalism, and fear of communism.
• WWII was caused by aggressive expansion, appeasement failures, and unresolved WWI issues.

4. 📊 Comparative Table

Item	Key Features	Notes / Differences
Colonial Africa	Artificial borders, resource exploitation, ethnic conflicts	Scramble for Africa (1884–85)
WWI Battles	Trench warfare, new tech (tanks, gas, aircraft)	Somme (1916), Verdun (1916), Gallipoli (1915)
Totalitarian Regimes	Centralized control, propaganda, purges	Stalin (USSR), Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy)
Causes of WWI	Militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism	Assassination, arms race, Balkan tensions
Post-WWI Peace	Harsh on Germany, creation of League of Nations	Led to WWII, unresolved tensions

5. 🗂️ Hierarchical Diagram (ASCII)

Global Conflicts & Movements
 ├─ Imperialism
 │    ├─ Africa: Scramble, Berlin Conference
 │    └─ Asia: Opium Wars, spheres of influence
 ├─ WWI
 │    ├─ Causes: Militarism, alliances, nationalism
 │    ├─ Major Battles: Somme, Verdun, Gallipoli
 │    └─ Consequences: Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations
 ├─ Russian Revolution
 │    ├─ Bolsheviks overthrow Tsar
 │    └─ Civil war, Stalin’s rise
 └─ WWII
      ├─ Causes: Aggression, appeasement
      ├─ Major Battles: D-Day, Stalingrad
      └─ Leaders: Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, Hitler

6. ⚠️ High-Yield Pitfalls & Confusions

• Confusing the Scramble for Africa with earlier trade routes.
• Mistaking Spheres of Influence for formal colonies in China.
• Overlooking the significance of the Treaty of Versailles in causing WWII.
• Confusing Stalin’s policies (Five Year Plans) with Lenin’s NEP.
• Misidentifying the causes of WWI—focusing only on the assassination.
• Assuming the League of Nations had enforcement power— it lacked US support.
• Mixing up fascism (Italy) with Nazism (Germany) despite similarities.
• Overestimating the immediate impact of the Russian Civil War on WWII.

7. ✅ Final Exam Checklist

• Know the main regions: Africa, Asia, Europe (1914, 1919).
• Understand the purpose and outcomes of the Berlin Conference.
• Identify key causes of WWI and major battles.
• Describe new warfare technologies introduced in WWI.
• Explain the terms and consequences of the Treaty of Versailles.
• Recognize the weaknesses of the League of Nations.
• Summarize the causes and effects of the Russian Revolution.
• Describe Stalin’s policies and their impact on USSR.
• Understand the rise of fascism and Nazism.
• List major WWII battles and leaders.
• Connect technological advances to WWII strategies.
• Recognize the global impact of WWII and its aftermath.

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