Answer: Balkans were called the "powder keg" of Europe because of the tensions and conflicts in the political situation going on. The Balkans consisted of numerous ethnic people, different religious groups, several cultural backgrounds.
Explanation:
The Balkans were preceded by World War 1 and in the early 20th century. Men from several countries joined the Balkan League because some were still under Ottoman rule even though independence had been achieved. It only took 4 states to defeat the Ottomans during the first war. However, Bulgaria was defeated in the 2nd war. When the "powder keg" finally exploded after fighting back and forth, this was when the first World War was started.
In Russia, World War I became the catalyst for the ovethrow of Czar Nicholas II and the rise of the Communist Party (Bolshevik Revolution) led by Vladmir Lenin. Russia became the first Communist country. Communism eventually spread to small countries near Russia and eventually spread to Cuba, China and Vietnam.
They were mainly agriculture based and slavery was free labor.
Maurya Empire and Gupta Empire are the most significant but there has been more than that.
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