1914 is arguably one of the most influential years in human history. Not only did it introduce the world to the practice of total warfare, but it also demonstrated the devastating outcome of rising political and economic tensions in Europe, as well as the inevitable conflict that is rooted in our global anarchic system. Almost a century later, historians continue to study the catastrophic events that occurred in 1914 and one of the most controversial and sensitive topics is the debate on who is to blame for the outbreak of WWI. Many would be quick to point their finger at Germany, including historian Fritz Fischer, who validly argues that Germany was responsible for WWI based upon their nation’s political and militaristic aims to establish Germany as a world power. On the other hand, historian Paul Ritter questions Fischer’s argument, believing that Germany did not intentionally plan for WWI to occur. Both points are valid, yet the truth may not lie on either extreme sides of the spectrum. Rather, the long-term and short-term responsibility of WWI is shared between Germany, the conflictive nature of the world’s political system, and those nation states that exist within such a system during 1914. Therefore, the combination of a precarious political environment and an ambitious militaristic intention and course of action holds Germany highly, yet not completely, responsible for WWI.…
The Peace of Augsburg was signed in 1555, ending the wars of religion in the Holy Roman Empire. It stated that the leaders of the many provinces in the Empire can decide what religion they wanted their people to follow. This treaty recognized Lutheran Protestants and Catholics, but not Calvinism. This essentially was the first time in the Holy Roman Empire that another religion was allowed, besides Catholicism.…
The devastating effects of World War 1 cultivated a sense of disbelief and shock within Europe and its socio-cultural order, European civilization and cultural orientations were shaken to its foundation. Consequently, World War 11 utterly obliterated any reassurance of hope World War 1 left, pessimism and disillusionment pervaded every aspect of European civilization. The nuclear warfare that effaced Japan in 1945 and the revelation of the evils of Fascism further dampened any apocalyptic positives for the future of European social order and values. The cataclysmic aftermath of World War 11 plunged Europe into deep ideological crisis and brought with it, a conscious valuation of the individual subject and a critical reconsideration of traditional…
At the turn of the twentieth century, Europe seemed to enjoy a period of peace and progress. Yet below the surface, several forces were at work that would lead Europe into the “great war”. One of these forces was nationalism and it had an explosive effect in the Balkans. But, nationalism was only one of the many causes of World War I. Historians and eyewitnesses have described the causes of World War I and have tried to assess the responsibility for it. Two causes for World War I are militarism and nationalism. Militarism is when the empires use weapons and armies strength to show who is more powerful. Empires would build stronger weapons to fight other empires to show their strength. Nationalism is pride in one’s country or culture. All countries thought their best. These two causes influenced World War I.…
World War I took place between 1914 and 1918. Although the conflict began in Europe, it roped in countries as far away as the United States and Japan. At the time, the English-speaking world knew it as the “Great War”—the term “World War I” was applied decades later. Historians still actively disagree over the fundamental causes of the war. The period leading up to the war was a complex tangle of diplomacy and political maneuvering—many countries debated over strategies and alliances until nearly the last minute—and the first few weeks of the conflict were similarly chaotic and confusing. However, historians agree nearly unanimously about the war’s consequences: World War I led almost directly to World War II and set the stage for many other important events in the twentieth century.…
World War I was, for most people, the most horrific event of their lives. There were over 35 million casualties, a war second only to World War II. No other war had changed the map of Europe so dramatically. Four empires disappeared: the German, Austrian-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian. Four dynasties all fell after the war: the Hohenzollerns, the Habsburgs, the Romanovs, and the Ottomans. Belgium and Serbia were badly damaged, as was France. Germany and Russia were similarly affected. Some may argue that the number of people killed was the most devastating and tragic aspect of the First World War, that the soldiers were a ‘lost generation’. Others argue, however, that other aspects come into play. Economic crashes, for example, crippled many countries, almost destroying Germany.…
During the Post-Classical period, Christian culture took hold in Eastern and Western Europe, but separation of citizens and invasions ultimately aided religious diffusion in Eastern and Western Europe over time.…
World War I—or the Great War as it was known at the time—was the result of a series of events between several nations around the world. The war was massively destructive for all involved, civilians and soldiers alike, and there were very few who were not affected by the worldwide conflict. The war has been considered a mass genocide, taking millions of lives and leaving many nations in shambles. The new, more advanced weaponry provided by the recently industrialized world resulted in one of the deadliest wars in history. There was no single cause of the event. Numerous conflicts and hostile relations between several nations around the globe escalated into a full-blown war that had devastating results.…
Upon the outbreak of World War I, excitement ran rampant throughout every country in Europe. It was enthralling, this idea of war, to young people who were bored with their day to day lives. As the war began to drag on the European collective began to truly understand the tragedies that came with it. The toll on European consciousness was immense due to the divide the war caused between civilians and the men who protected them.…
World War 1 or ‘The Great War’ was a conflict between the central and allied powers in 1914-1918. It took place mainly in Europe and Italy but was later expanded into France, Germany, and the South of Turkey. The causes of World War 1 are still debatable today. However, some points of the War are more important to note than others. Likewise, not only did the Serbians assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand, but the development of militarism also proves to be a main cause as well. The struggle of imperialism was correspondingly apart of the cause too because it set up the scene for other wars to take place. This is why imperialism is so substantial in history when we reference the Great War. These causes led to a world of propaganda, 8.5 million deaths, rationing of food, and higher taxes.…
World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global war centered around Europe. The first four years of “total war” that constituted World War I (1914-1918) changed the lives of not only the men who fought as soldiers, but the people who remained at home. Some effects of the Great War on the European home fronts during the first course of the war were nationalistic feelings, working women, dwindling food supplies, and the rise of socialism.…
The horrendous effects of World War I changed the shape of the world, creating a growing sense of distrust as people realized the “war to end all wars” solved nothing. Distrust of political leaders and government officials permeated the minds of those who had witnessed the terror and destruction that the war brought about. A feeling of disillusionment spread across the world as people bitterly decided that their governments in no way knew how to serve the best interests of the people. This gloomy epidemic ultimately affected the youth of this time, creating a time of disillusionment and loss of hope. This period cultivated a generation of disenchanted authors and artists,…
Overall, World War I is credited with the title “The Great War” because of its long-term and immediate origins, overwhelming major battles, treaty that settled peace to the world, and aggravating consequences. Indeed, the Great War affected the world in different ways, including exposing the horrors on the battlefield and the worries at home. Most importantly, World War I created a sorrow and destructive environment that resulted from the fear of seeing so many…
One of causes for World War I was militarism, this played a big role in the war because many citizens wanted to test their military against other countries which caused war. All the countries were in a race to become the most powerful and certain countries wanted a chance to prove themselves by using their military. As the race continued to be number one many countries were left with a big military and nothing to do with it. The citizens of these countries were very proud and supportive of their armies. In the schools the kids were thought that…
The First World War in the beginning of the twentieth century is remembered as horrific and the savagery of mankind. It was the clash between the powers and the show off stage for their national pride. It was truly a struggle for dominance and delivered nothing but destruction and their downfall. The First World War surely ended the European domination of the world. It was a fair cycle of history that took away the baton of prolonged European imperialism to other rising regions such as Asia and America. It was surely the war that caused European downfall in economy, political unstableness, and change in their tension toward internal and external neighboring borders. The war was a controversial warfare in an immense scale that had no differentiation…