The First World War (1914-18)
Introduction
After the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), Europe and the United States experienced a period of relative peace. There was rapid industrial and commercial progress. The western powers expanded trade and colonies. However, national rivalries gradually grew and alliance camps emerged. Economic competition and arms race also became intense. The Balkans became a hotpot of western intervention, as the Ottoman Empire declined. Finally war broke out in 1914, a war which was unexpectedly disastrous and destructive in scale. The war was caused by a number of interwoven factors.
- National Rivalries
- Alliance System
- Militarism
- Economic Rivalries
- Colonial Rivalries
- Pre-war Crises
- Immediate Cause of the War 1914
- Course of the War 1914-18
- Results of the First World War
@HW Poon 1979