Geopolitics

What is it?• Geopolitics – claiming lands because of its strategic location• Controlling a place because of where it is• A place that has important resources, a place that makes it

easier to connect lands, a place that makes transportation easier• Why would South Africa be an example of this?

What are some places in the world that would be important to grab for geopolitics?

Suez Canal• 1869 – France builds a canal

that connects Mediterranean Sea to Red Sea– Much easier to sail to India now

• France had control of canal, could restrict who could travel through it– Who would be threatened by

this?

England• India is the jewel in the crown,

England needs to be able to get there

• 1882 – England claims Egypt as a colony to control Suez Canal– Perfect example of geopolitics

Panama Canal• Incredibly important waterway

that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

• Built by the United States, finished in 1914

• United States wanted control of Panama Canal so that they could easily connect East and West coasts of their country without going around South America

• U.S. gave control back to Panama in 1999

Other lands in Mediterranean• Discovery of oil makes land in

Middle East valuable• Russia wanted Middle East

lands for warm-water port• Crimean War – war in 1853 -

England and France fought to stop Russia from getting land on Black Sea