Historical Essay 2.docx

he war to end all wars often referred to as the Great War, was the most important event of the twentieth century. The World War I marked the commencement of the kind of conflict in the twentieth century, in that, the level of devastation and loss of life were substantial. As a result, it attained a status that no other war has achieved. According to Keene et al. (2013), "..., the war turned into a prolonged global struggle that took the lives of millions of men." Although "the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife, on June 28, 1914, by Bosnian revolutionary directly triggered the First World War" (Keene et al. 2013), other forces such as nationalism, imperialism, alliances, and militarism also contributed to the First World War. Nationalism according to , is “a sentiment based on common cultural characteristics that bind a population and often produces a policy of national independence or separatism." It is more than just dedication and patriotism rather a reliable identification or pride in one's nation. Although nationalism can serve as a unifying strength within a society, it can also generate serious controversy amongst other countries. For instance, The Great British dominance and superiority position in the Europe caused a furious opposition and rivalry within Europe’s powers like Russia, France, Germany, Austria­Hungary, and Italy in the early 1900s