What major global event had a significant impact on East Asia at the start of the 20th century?

• A. World War I
• B. The Great Depression
• C. The Cold War
• D. The Cuban Missile Crisis

Answer: (A)

At the start of the 20th century, World War I had a significant impact on East Asia, particularly in the context of shifting power dynamics and colonialism. The war fundamentally altered the geopolitical landscape, as European powers were preoccupied with the conflict, allowing for increased movements toward nationalism and independence in various East Asian countries.

Japan, for instance, leveraged its involvement in the war to expand its influence in East Asia, particularly in regions like China and Korea. The signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 further solidified Japan's status as a major power, as it granted Japan control over former German territories in the Pacific. This period also saw the rise of nationalist movements in China, fueled by resentment towards colonial domination and inspired by the global discourse around self-determination that followed the war.

While the other events listed—The Great Depression, The Cold War, and The Cuban Missile Crisis—had profound effects on global affairs, they occurred later in the 20th century and did not have the same immediate and transformative impact on East Asia at the turn of the century that World War I did. The consequences of the war provided the groundwork for many national and revolutionary movements that shaped East Asia throughout the following decades.