SuperBeaverInc.
Groucho
Chapter I - Overview
Once a great empire that stretched across the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans, and the Black Sea, the Ottoman Empire had fallen on hard time for the last few centuries, being pushed back by the Christian European nations. The empire was now a shell of its former self, holding only Anatolia and the Middle East. Technologically it was behind its western neighbours, with an outdated army and navy, and no air force to speak of.
The boundaries of Europe have remained relatively static throughout the first thirty-six years of the 1900s. With exception of the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, the only change in the borders occured as a result of revolts in Poland against Tsarist Russia , resulting in the creation of Congress Poland. Two major alliance systems have dominated Europe. First is the Central Powers, consisting of Germany and Austria-Hungary. The second is the Double Entente, consisting of France, Russia, and Congress Poland. The British remain neutral, observing the situation in Europe from across the Channel.
Africa has also remained static for the last 50 years or so. Since the scramble in Africa of the 1880s, the only change has been the Italian capture of Libya, which had been under Ottoman administration. The colonial powers had continued to develop their colonies and utilize the resources of the continent, while Europe remained a powderkeg which could erupt at anytime.
In Asia, the decline of the Qing Empire continued. Mongolia had gained its independence, while warlords took control of the west of the country. Sinkiang and Tibet in the far mountainous west, while the Ma Clique, Fengtian Clique, Yunnan Clique, and Guangxi Clique held central China. The Qing held just the eastern Chinese lands. The Europeans had also used China's instability to expand their colonial holdings. France took control of Hainan and a small foothold on the mainland, Britain expanding its colony at Hong Kong, the Italians seized a piece of the Chinese coast, and the Germans took Shanghai.
Still seeking to reclaim its former glory, the Ottomans held claims on several lands they had lost. They claimed Libya and Rhodes from the Italians, Cyprus from the British, and Crete and the Dardanelles from Greece.
Once a great empire that stretched across the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans, and the Black Sea, the Ottoman Empire had fallen on hard time for the last few centuries, being pushed back by the Christian European nations. The empire was now a shell of its former self, holding only Anatolia and the Middle East. Technologically it was behind its western neighbours, with an outdated army and navy, and no air force to speak of.
The boundaries of Europe have remained relatively static throughout the first thirty-six years of the 1900s. With exception of the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, the only change in the borders occured as a result of revolts in Poland against Tsarist Russia , resulting in the creation of Congress Poland. Two major alliance systems have dominated Europe. First is the Central Powers, consisting of Germany and Austria-Hungary. The second is the Double Entente, consisting of France, Russia, and Congress Poland. The British remain neutral, observing the situation in Europe from across the Channel.
Africa has also remained static for the last 50 years or so. Since the scramble in Africa of the 1880s, the only change has been the Italian capture of Libya, which had been under Ottoman administration. The colonial powers had continued to develop their colonies and utilize the resources of the continent, while Europe remained a powderkeg which could erupt at anytime.
In Asia, the decline of the Qing Empire continued. Mongolia had gained its independence, while warlords took control of the west of the country. Sinkiang and Tibet in the far mountainous west, while the Ma Clique, Fengtian Clique, Yunnan Clique, and Guangxi Clique held central China. The Qing held just the eastern Chinese lands. The Europeans had also used China's instability to expand their colonial holdings. France took control of Hainan and a small foothold on the mainland, Britain expanding its colony at Hong Kong, the Italians seized a piece of the Chinese coast, and the Germans took Shanghai.
Still seeking to reclaim its former glory, the Ottomans held claims on several lands they had lost. They claimed Libya and Rhodes from the Italians, Cyprus from the British, and Crete and the Dardanelles from Greece.
