Splendid Isolation - coined originally by a Canadian, this term was used to describe Britain's foreign policy within Europe during the late 19th century, a policy characterised by a reluctance to enter into permanent alliances with other great powers, but rather to concentrate on their colonies.

The Franco-Prussian War, 1870 - spanning from July 1870 until May 1871, the Franco-Prussian War was fought between the French and the Germans, resulting in a comprehensive German victory. The primary cause of the war was Otto von Bismarck, Prussian Chancellor, and his desire to create a unified Germany.

Unification of Germany - officially occurring on the 18th January 1871, this unification was a direct result of the Franco-Prussian War, although many believed this organisation of German-speaking populations into one nation was inevitable. Nevertheless, this rose tensions for political, religious and cultural reasons, meaning true unification wasn't complete for years.

Austria-Hungary - in the Balkans, the growth of Slavic nationalist groups threatened the stability of the already-fragile Austro-Hungarian empire. These groups sought to gain independence from the political domination of this empire.

Unification of Italy - this involved the consolidation of states of the Italian peninsula into one state, spanning a large proportion of the 19th century. Many see the completion of this process as 1871, when Rome was made the capital city of this unified state. This was due to a growing national identity and the sight of nearby countries also unifying.

The Dual Alliance, 1879 - created on 7th October 1879 as part of Otto von Bismarck's plan to prevent or limit war. This alliance existed between Germany and Austria-Hungary, focusing on protecting one another in the event of Russian or French invasion.

The Triple Alliance, 1882 - this was a military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, formed on 20th May 1882. This, like the dual alliance, promised mutual aid if a greater power invaded any one of these countries.

The Scramble for Africa - also called the Conquest of Africa, this was the invasion, occupation and colonisation of Africa territories by European powers in the 1880s. The main countries involved were Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. While in 1870, only 10% of Africa was under European control, by 1914, 90% was, with only two countries remaining independent.

The Naval Defence Act of 1889 - this parliamentary act of May 1889 introduced Britain's 'two-power standard', which promised that Britain's navy would be at least the size of the next two largest navies in the world, namely those of Russia and France.