Conditions in Serbia during 1870-1914
Military
Serbia's expanision in military can primarily be seen in the Balkan Wars. During the Balkan Wars Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece were given all the European territory of the Ottoman Empire except Albania. However, at the end of the Second Balkan War, Serbia was given large gains in Macedonia, but was denied the Adriatic port under the Germans and Austrians. At the end of the wars, Serbia with an alliance with the Russians had an army of 200,000 men (McDonough 15-16)
Economic
Between 1850 and 1876, there was a huge change in foreign trade as it nearly doubled, as there was growing demand for Serbian exports of livestock. Serbia's market of exported livestock was primarily to Austria-Hungary, however the trade also occurred in the opposite way, as most of the Serbian goods were from Austria Hungary. This left Serbia in a situation where they were dependent upon Austria-Hungary for economic trade. However, before the 1880s, Serbia had a very gradual, slow change to industrialization. Serbia created ironworks and also building roads and bridges. Communication efficiency and factories increased as trade regulated throughout Serbia helping Serbia's poor economy. Even though Serbia experienced gradual industrial change, agriculture was still prominent throughout Serbian society and culture ( Winter, Economic Policies of Serbia).
Political
During the late 1870’s Serbia introduced a expansionist foreign policy with the aim to liberate the Serbians who still remained in the surrounding Ottoman and Habsburg lands. This plan was called the Greater Serbian plan. This plan demonstrated nationalism within Serbia as its primary goal was to make Serbia a combined, unified nation and imperialize. This policy would spark the tension in the Balkan region, as Serbia’s territorial goals were the territories of strong empires like Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire (Winter, Expansionist Polices of Serbia
Social
Nationalism had a huge role to play in the social life of Serbia, especially after the tensions in the Balkan Wars and the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nationalism in Serbia was also one of the major sparks for the initiation of WW1 as the Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand, was shot by a Serbian extremist group who was fueled by nationalism. Even in terms of ethnic population, nationalism played a huge role as nearly 90% of the ethnic population was Serbians, increasing the nationalism within society (The Death of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand and the Outbreak of WW1)