The "powder keg" in the balkans refers to the?
a. invasion of the region
b. political instability of the region
c. efforts taken to ease tensions throughout the region
d. larger number of munitions factories built in the region

Answer

The correct answer is  option B.  

The “powder keg” in the Balkans refers to the instability of the region.

Explanation

The “powder keg” refers to the tension in the Balkan region before the First World War. The major European powers contested against each others to hold claims and influence over the territories in the region. Further the nations in these regions contested against each other with the sense of nationalism to prove their ‘greatness’ over other.

Further Explanation

The Balkans is known to be the cluster of nations in Eastern Europe which included Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empires.  

There were traditionally three empires in the regions namely – Ottoman Empire, Russian Empire and Austria- Hungary Empire. The 20th century saw enormous tension in the region with the retreat of Ottoman Empire and the independence of countries like Bulgaria, Greece Serbia and Montenegro. The European powers of Britain, France, Russia and Germany became heavily interested in the region to establish their influence and control as the fall of the Ottoman Empire was imminent. The two Balkan wars were prelude to the First World War as the “powder keg” exploded into Great powers to directly get engaged with each other to establish their dominance.

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Keywords

Powder keg of Europe, Balkan wars, reason for First World War, Balkan in the 20th century, fall  of Ottoman Empire.

The "powder keg" in the Balkans refers to the political instability of the region.

Further Explanations:  

Balkans were the groups of dynasties of Eastern Europe that included the empires of Ottoman dynasty and of Austria-Hungary. The region got its name from Balkan mountains that stretch from Siberian Bulgarian borders to the Black sea coast.

Powder keg for Balkans refers to the barrel of gun powder that was the primary method of storing and transporting large amount of gun power since the invention of modern ceased bullet, but in reference to Balkan “Powder Keg” refers to the conflict in the Balkan regions for their supremacy.

The Ottoman Turks authorized themselves in the Balkans and infiltrated more penetrating into Europe notwithstanding recurred attempts to repulse them while European powers of Britain, France, Germany and Russia became heavily interested in the region to establish their influence and control. Thus powder keg can be referred to as the engaging of the Balkans in a battle so as to establish their supremacy.

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Answer Details

Grade: High School

Subject: History

Chapter: Powder Keg

Keywords: Powder Keg, Balkans, Eastern Europe, Ottoman dynasty, Siberian Bulgarian, Black sea, coast,Ottoman Turks,Britain, France, Russia, Germany

the exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service.