The First World War is one of the most important events of the 20th century, and one which shaped both European and global history. This seminar course aims to introduce students to the subject and give them a chance to explore the conflict in an international comparative context. Students will explore political, military, cultural, social and economic issues relating to the outbreak, progress and conclusion of the war, in order to enhance their understanding of the twentieth century and many of its key problems.This course also aims to develop students research skills and give them experience in working with primary sources.

Since 2014 is the centenary of the outbreak of the war we will take advantage of this unique occasion to critique the centenary celebrations. If sufficient students are interested there may also be a class excursion to visit some of the First World War battlefields in northern Italy.

This course is primarily comparative in approach and seeks to study the war from multiple facets and approaches. As well as the conventional focus on the Western Front the course will include emphasis on Italy, Austria-Hungary and Russia, while beyond Europe we will consider the war in Africa, the Middle East and the Atlantic. 

The course will focus on a number of key debates which have arisen in recent scholarship, in order to explain and understand the war: was war inevitable in 1914? Why did trench warfare develop, and why did the war last so long? Why did Germany lose the? Was the entry of the USA decisive and if so how? And how far is it fair to say that World War II grew out of World War I, and of the peace treaties signed at the end of it? We will focus on these areas of historical debate in class discussion and in assignments.

This course covers the causes and origins of the war, and its ongoing political dimensions along with military matters, including the impact and development of new technologies and the nature of tactical change over the four years of conflict. Beyond the battlefield, we will also study the societies which went to war in 1914 and the economic dimensions of the conflict as well as its cultural aspects. Finally, we will consider the legacies of the war, in political terms as well as socially and culturally

By the end of the course students will have a thorough knowledge of the topic and will have direct experience of considering and engaging with contrasting interpretations of historical events. They will have learned how to engage with historical debates in secondary literature as well as gained experience in critically examining some primary materials. Students will also have learned valuable skills in developing useful historical comparisons as well as an introduction to different kinds of historical approach including cultural, economic and social history.

Through class discussion and oral presentations students will improve their skills in orally explaining an argument, while through their term paper they will further develop transferable skills in research, interpretation, analysis and writing.

Effective class participation is central to this class, so attendance is mandatory.  More than 3 unauthorised absences will cause your final overall grade to be reduced (ie. A- to B+, B+ to B etc). An excused absence requires a doctor's note or official confirmation from the university that you have had an illness, family emergency or legal obligation which prevents you from attending class.

Travel plans, or mistakes in travel plans, are not an acceptable reason for missing class.

Students must sign in on the class attendance sheet at the start of each class. Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the start of class will be recorded as absent. Please be punctual. Attendance records are based on the sign-in sheet so it is your responsibility to make sure you sign it every class.

It is not possible to arrange make-ups for mid-term or final exams. See catalogue for further details.

NB Supplementary Class Policy: Laptops or other computers may NOT be used in class EXCEPT when we are working on the digital project.

                 CLASS SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS 

W. Mulligan, The Origins of the First World War (2010)                                                       [WM]

M. Neiberg (ed). The World War I Reader (2006) [also e-version]                                    [Reader]

L. Sondhaus, World War One: The Global Revolution (2011)                                                 [LS]

On Reserve:

H. Strachan, The First World War: A New History (2006)                                                     [HS]

H. Strachan (ed), The Oxford illustrated history of the First World War (2000)                     [OX]                                                                   

It is important that you have a general sense of the war as a whole, from reading a complete narrative history. We will NOT cover every single event of the war in class so it is important that you fill in the gaps yourself by ensuting you complete the Global Revolution textbook or Hew Strachan's "New History".