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Teaching Notes
Interpreting Political Maps In the late 1800s and early 1900s, European nations began a massive military buildup, in part to protect their overseas colonies from rival powers. At the same
time, these nations formed a complicated network of alliances to protect themselves from opposing armed forces. By 1914 the uneasy peace was about to end. Engage students in a discussion of
the map, using the following questions as a guide:
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Which countries made up the Allied Powers? United Kingdom, France, Serbia, Russia
Which countries made up the Central Powers? Germany and Austria-Hungary
Which countries had more than 100,000 troops, in order of most troops to least troops?
Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, Serbia, United Kingdom Point out that the two countries
with the most troops, Germany and France, were on opposing sides and bordered each other.
English-Language Learners Ask students what an alliance is (an alliance is an association or
partnership). Explain to students that by studying alliances, they can discover which countries
worked together and which countries chose not to be involved. Explain that neutral countries are
ones that don’t choose a side. Have students find the countries on the map that remained neutral
(in brown). Have students point out which neutral countries sit between the Central and Allied
Powers (Belgium and Switzerland). Explain that although a country may choose to be neutral it
doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t be affected by a war.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
Map Transparencies
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EUROPEAN ALLIANCES AND MILITARY FORCES, 1914
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Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.