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HIS350 World War I

• Department History
• Level Upper
• Format Online
• Credits 3

Description

Known colloquially as the Great War and the War to End All Wars, World War I was a watershed event in twentieth-century global history. Borne out of imperial rivalries and complex European alliances, the war erupted suddenly in 1914 and ended more than four years later, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In the years between, the Allied and Central Powers engaged in a horrific and devastating Total War, drafting unprecedentedly large armies and transforming their economies to support the war effort, yet producing little more than stalemate and death on much of the Western Front. The Great War changed how wars were fought and introduced new technology to the battlefield. Students in this course will examine the origins and consequences of the war, the major strategic decisions, as well as the intertwining history on the home front of the combatant nations. Students will engage with the historical material through innovative games and simulations, designed to allow students to experience the major decision points and strategy during World War I as if they were really there. Along with the simulations, students will read primary source accounts of the war to understand the war s significance, its toll on the Lost Generation, and its ramifications more than one hundred years later. Note: This course includes gaming technology that requires students to have a web browser that meets the minimum Excelsior University requirements.

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Prerequisites

This course does not require any prerequisites.

Sections