HIST 135T The Great War, 1914-1918 (Same as Leadership Studies 135T) (Not offered 2006-2007; to be offered 2007-2008) (W)
During the nineteenth and early twentieth century Europeans and their immediate offspring created the modern world. European industry, science, trade, weapons, and culture dominated the globe. After a century of general peace the continual "progress" of Western Civilization seemed assured. Then, in August,
1914, the major European powers went to war with one another. After four years
of unprecedented carnage, violence, and destruction, Europe was left exhausted
and bitter, its previous optimism replaced by pessimism, its world position undermined, and its future clouded by a deeply flawed peace settlement.
What were the fundamental causes of the Great War? How and why did it break
out when it did and who was responsible? Why was it so long, ferocious, wasteful, and, until the very end, indecisive? Why did the Allies, rather than the Central Powers, emerge victorious? What did the peace settlement settle? How was
Europe changed? What is the historical significance of the conflict?
Format: tutorial.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 10 (expected: 10). Preference will be given to first-year
students, and then sophomores, who have not previously taken a 100-level tutorial.
Group B