Political Divisions.—The lines of divi sion of Europe were greatly changed and in many cases obliterated by the World War. As a result of the treaty follow ing the conclusion of the war, new na tions were established. This included Jugoslavia, Czecho-Slovakia, Poland, Latvia, Esthonia, Lithuania, and others. Germany lost, in addition to 5,600 square miles of territory, with nearly 2,000,000 inhabitants, by the recession to France of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, control of the great Saar Valley coal fields, to compensate in part for the coal mines of northern France destroyed or crippled during the war. Within 15 years from the coming into effect of the Peace Treaty, the inhabitants of this basin are to determine by plebiscite whether they shall remain under the control of the League of Nations, be coming a part of France, or revert to Germany. Germany was also compelled to surrender to Poland the vast area with a population of 6,000,000, and, in order to provide Poland with an outlet to the sea, Germany was compelled to relinquish the Baltic seaport of Danzig which became the free city of Danzig under the protection of the League of Nations. The Memel district, northeast of East Prussia, was given in charge of the Allied and Associated Powers, pend ing the final settlement of their sov ereignty.
In addition to the Saar Basin, the Peace Treaty designated these areas for plebiscite to determine their eventual ownership. Two of these were in East Prussia, one in northern Schleswig, southern Schleswig, Holstein, and Upper Silesia. Plebiscites were held in all these prior to 1921, except Upper Si lesia. Holstein and southern Schleswig elected to be reincorporated into the Ger man Republic. North Schleswig voted to return to Denmark, and East Prussia preferred German as against Polish absorption.
By the Treaty of St. Germain, signed Sept. 10, 1919, the monarchy of Austria Hungary ceased to exist. Its place was taken by the republics of Austria, Hun gary, and Czecho-Slovakia, while large areas of its former territory passed into the hands of Italy, Rumania, and Jugo slavia. For further details see the articles on these countries. By the Treaty of Neuilly signed on Nov. 27, 1919, Bulgaria suffered a loss of territory. Bulgarian Thrace was given to Greece. To Jugoslavia was surren dered a strip of territory including the town of Strumitsa and two small por tions of territory belonging to the west ern Bulgarian front. The total area of territory lost was about 2,000 square miles.
Turkey, by the Treaty of Sevres, be came in Europe scarcely more than a name. Its European territory included only a small tract of land west of Con stantinople, and the city itself. The Dardanelles, the Bosporus, and the shores of the Sea of Marmora were placed under the control of the Interallied Com mission. Turkish Thrace was awarded
to Greece. Twelve islands formerly be longing to Turkey, known as the Spo rades, were awarded to Italy, who, on the same day, ceded all the group with the exception of Rhodes, to Greece.
The Russian empire, as the result of the revolution, was deprived of a great area of territory from which new states were formed. These included the repub lics of Finland, the Baltic states of Es thonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and a large territory which went to help form the republic of Poland. Montenegro ceased to exist as an independent power and became a part of the kingdom of Jugoslavia. Albania declared its independence in 1917, but its boundaries had not been established at the begin ning of 1921.
Italy gained, as a result of the war, the so-called "unredeemed provinces," including the Trentino region, Gorizia, and the Istrian peninsula, together with the great seaport of Trieste. The esti mated area of this territory is between 15,000 and 18,000 square miles, with nearly 2,000,000 inhabitants. Italy also gained the administration of the island of Rhodes and several other small islands.
Greece made great territorial gains. In addition to the acquisition of Thrace and many islands in the Agean Sea, she also assumed administration of the Smyrna district in Asia Minor, with a proviso that a plebiscite at the end of five years shall determine whether or not it shall remain permanently in the hands of Greece.
Rumania profited greatly in terri tory. She was awarded the province of Bessarabia, formerly a part of Russia, the former Austrian crownland of Buko wina, together with Transylvania, a part of Banat, and other provinces from Hun gary. By this acquisition Rumania be came the largest country of the Balkan states, with an area equal to the com bined areas of Czecho-Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria, with a population, in 1919, of 12,500,000.
Ukraine, formerly one of the richest provinces of Russia, declared itself an independent republic. Its boundaries are vague. It is claimed to have an area of about 200,000 square miles, with a population of 30,000,000. Its independ ence had not been acknowledged at the beginning of 1921.
History.—Europe was probably first peopled from Asia, but at what date we know not. The first authentic history begins in Greece at about 776 B. C. Greek civilization was at its most flour ishing period about 430 B. C. After Greece came Rome, which, by the early part of the Christian era, had conquered Spain, Greece, Gaul, Helvetia, Germany between the Danube and the Alps, Illyria, Dacia, etc.