The Great European Powers

Vast Size

All-powerful Kaiser and Chancellor

Ruled by a sultan

Democratic republic

Very much a multinational empire

Very much the 'sick man of Europe'

Dual Monarchy

Autocratic Czar

Dominated world trade in 19th century

Rapidly losing control of Balkans

United through wars 1863-71

Large empire, largely in Africa

Ruled for centuries by the Habsburg family

Slow economic and population growth

Rapid, late industrialization 1890s

Early, effective industrial revolution

Mostly Slav and Orthodox

Huge empire including India

Excluded from Italy and Germany in 1860s

Controlled most of the Middle East

Dominated by Germans and Hungarians

Defeat by Germany and loss of land in 1871

Beginning to rival the industrial power of Britain

Powerful Prussian army and Junker class (aristocracy)

Threatened by Russia, Austria and nationalism

Had expanded to the Pacific Ocean

By far the largest navy

Long established parliamentary monarchy

Began full-scale naval building c. 1900

Very much the centre of European art and culture