What significant change occurred in Europe after the collapse of the Habsburg Empire?

The significant change that occurred in Europe after the collapse of the Habsburg Empire was the redrawing of maps across Europe and the Middle East. This event marked the end of a multi-national empire that had ruled for centuries and contributed to the significant geopolitical shifts in the region.

Following the empire's collapse after World War I, various national boundaries were redefined to reflect new nations that emerged from the former territories, like Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. The Treaty of Saint-Germain and the Treaty of Trianon are examples of treaties that led to the creation of new states and the alteration of borders. The changes were not only limited to Europe, as the collapse also influenced territorial arrangements in the Middle East, laying the groundwork for modern nations and conflicts in those regions.

While options regarding economic prosperity, immediate democracy, and the establishment of the European Union touch on important historical developments, they do not capture the immediate and direct consequence of the Habsburg Empire's fall as accurately as the alteration of national boundaries.