Theme 6: Imperialism Sowed Seeds of World War

The competition for colonies fueled European rivalries that contributed directly to WWI. German resentment of British and French colonial dominance, Russian-British rivalry in Persia and Central Asia, Italian frustration in the Mediterranean, all helped poison European relations. Imperial wars (Boer War, Russo-Japanese War, Boxer Rebellion, Italian-Ethiopian War) provided dress rehearsals and lessons for the larger conflict. Maria should treat imperialism as one of the principal causes of WWI.