The Balkan Wars: A Prelude to Global Conflict The Balkan Wars of the early 20th century were two successive military conflicts that took place in southeastern Europe in 1912 and 1913. Though often overshadowed by the First World War that followed closely on their heels, the Balkan Wars played a crucial role in reshaping the political map of Europe, accelerating the decline of the Ottoman Empire, and inflaming nationalist tensions that would explode in 1914. Historical Context By the beginning of the 20th century, the Ottoman Empire , once a dominant force in Europe, Asia, and Africa, had become the “sick man of Europe.” Its European territories, particularly in the Balkans , were restive and increasingly influenced by nationalist ideologies. The region was a complex patchwork of ethnicities and religions, and the desire for independence or territorial expansion was widespread among its nations. The Balkan League , an alliance between Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro , was form...