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Prior to (and in fact since) World War I, the Balkans region of Europe was called its "Powder Keg" because of the many different competing nationalities and ethnic groups and allegiances contained in it. With major European powers only indirectly involved in the intrigues and hostilities of the Balkans, it came to be said that a match lit in that region could set fire to the "powder" and thus cause an explosion that would impact the entire continent -- and even beyond.

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10y ago
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15y ago

Yes. Powder Keg is a metaphorical term sometimes used when referring to countries or geographical regions where political, socio-economic and historical circumstances have made the area prone to outbursts of wars or other conflicts. The analogy is drawn from a perception that certain territories may seem peaceful and dormant until a minor event triggers a large outburst of violence.

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13y ago

The Balkan region was referred to as the powder keg of Europe because two major, conflicting powers (Austro-Hungary and Russia) who had military agreements with the other major European powers, were heavily involved in the conflicts of the region. Austria administered power over Bosnia, which Serbian nationalists claimed as a part of their country. Russia had promised to protect Serbia in event of war, and when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, Austria declared war. This led to a chain reaction of war declarations that began World War 1, making the Balkans the Powder Keg of Europe.

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11y ago

Many different ethnic groups in the Balkans, such as the Serbs, the Croatians, etc., were not happy to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire prior to WW I (just as they were also not happy to be part of Yugoslavia, in the Cold War era) and they had militant separatist movements. This is what resulted in the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and the start of WW I; his assassin was a Serbian separatist.

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11y ago

because it was like the powder that blew and started the world war 1, when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian.

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12y ago

Because they were the stupid people who came up with that name in the first plpace so they really arent called that because they made that up themselfs so........................ they suck

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11y ago

because of it's more than 400 years of ethnic and political conflict
The assasination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand set of the spark the began World War I

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14y ago

because of long history of nationalist uprisings and ethnic clashes, the Balkans was known as the powder keg of Europe

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12y ago

lolz. get a life people.

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Q: Why was the balkan region called the powder keg of Europe?
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Related questions

What region was refferred to as the powder keg of Europe?

The Balkan Peninsula


What is the southeastern region of Europe that includes Albania?

It is part of what is called the Balkan peninsula or the Balkans.


Why was the Balkan region reffered to as the powder keg of Europe before World War 1?

Several nationalist uprising had broken out in the Balkans.


Which region was called the power keg of Europe before world war 1?

The Balkan Peninsula


What region was described as the powder keg of Europe prior to world war 1?

the balkansThe "Powder keg of Europe", sometimes alternately known as the "BalkanPowder Keg", refers to the Balkans in the early part of the 20th century preceding World War I.


What ethnic problems in the Balkans lead to World War 1?

The Balkan region was actually known as the Powder Keg of Europe prior to the start of World War I. There was increasing tension between the countries in the region, and growing nationalism.


Powder keg region?

The Balkan region, also known as the "Balkan Powder Keg", was the region where Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated, causing the spark that would lead Austria to declare war. This led to a chain reaction of war declarations that began World War I, much like the devastating effects of a powder keg.


What region was referred to as the power keg of Europe?

The Balkan Peninsula.The Balkans were referred to as the Power Keg of Europe.


What is The landform region in Eastern Europe that is dominated by the Danube River?

Balkan peninsula


What region is Serbia in?

Serbia is located in southeastern part of Europe in central part of Balkan peninsula.


What region was referred to as the powders keg of Europe?

That explosive region was the Balkans, and that was where the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand took place, thereby setting off WW I.


How did the events in Europe between 1904 and 1948 pre-dispose the Balkan region to conflicts?

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