Alexander led his army to conquer the swat valley and the Swati villagers fled to the mountains asking for a divine protection and they believe that their Gods will protect them because the mountain is so high. In order to conquer and to prove his power Alexander build a wooden ramp to place his catapults and arrow units and also he climbed up so he could hold the star of Jupiter representing his power and greatness.
The main reason was that the Ottoman empire was in very slow decline during these years; when other major European powers were starting to industrialize themselves. Because the Ottoman Empire couldn't keep up ,they suffered the consequences in the form of a later period of industrialization.
The Union used a large naval blockade to stop most of the South's cotton trade. I hope this helps!
