Question

Assertion (A): The most serious source of nationalist tension in Europe after 1871 was Balkan.

Reason (R): A large part of the Balkan was under the control of Ottoman Empire.

Options

• Both, (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

• Both, (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

• (A) is true but (R) is false.

• (A) is false but (R) is true.

Answer 1

Both, (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Explanation: 

The reason (R) correctly explains the assertion (A). The nationalist tension in the Balkans was fueled by the weakening of the Ottoman Empire, which created a power vacuum. This encouraged various Balkan states to assert their independence and led to rivalries among these nations, as well as interference by European powers like Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Germany, who sought to exploit the situation for their strategic interests.