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Treaty of Westphalia
The Treaty of Westphalia marks the end of Europe's seemingly endless bloody religious conflicts. The strife between Protestants and Catholics has ended, meaning that no longer will religous difference between European states be an appropriate causus-belli. Here Europe gains its first advantage over the rest of civilzation. By eliminating the source of much of er conflict, European states are able to pour their resources into enterprises focues on the world waiting to be doscovered. -
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht is endemic of the balance of power system that developed. Under this system nations did not try to vanquish one another, but rather sought to gain a particualr advantage over them. In this conflict the maritime powers - who often filled this role - sought to prevent too much power being consolidated into one nation. This balance of power that both prevented one nation's hegemony over its counterparts and cemented Europe's control over the wider world -
Treaty of Paris
Here the two dominant european powers haggle over territores on each and every inhabited contitnent as though they were at a market. Britain's success in the war guranteed them the majority of the disputed terriroty in question, however, no mainland European territory changed hands in the treaty. Europe's absolute authority over the world is in full force, as peoples the world over are argued over, all the while the Britain, France and Spain's borders remain unchanged -
The Open Doot Note
The open door note was a document written by US secretary of State John Hay that outlined what he thought policy should be in regards to China. The note is in response to open ports being set up by European powers on mainland China. Though this policy was proposed by the US it was initated in response to develpments by Gernany and Russia. Here the interests of colnizing nations are served with only the slightest afterthought for the people of China. -
Sykes-Picot Agreement
The Sykes-Picot Agreement carved up the body of the Ottoman Empire while it was still alive. The agreement divided the Middle East between the two with concern for resource interests. The British ganing jurisdiction over zone B and the French zone A; thus the territory is carved up by the powers, who regarded it as their's to exploit upon the conclusion of the war. This document truly is European powers simply taking what they want because they tought themselves capable of doing so. -
Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points
For the first time European powers are forced to consent to the wishes of a power outside of the European sphere. The creation of the LoN over the complains of the French President (Point 14) and ethnic self-determination for the Italian fronteir (Point 9) are the first instances where a non-European power forces the hand of a European state. This is the end of the absolute hegemony that Europe so enjoyed over alomst 3 centuries.
