History 1040
The Great War
6 September
In today's class we will deal with Imperialism and examine its role in leading to the Great War. In particular, we will focus on how it destabilized Europe and how the extreme nationalism of this period was reflected in the Imperialist enterprise. We will also discuss Merriman's analysis of the Origins of the Great War.
Recommended watching:
Also if you want to watch an interesting scene from Star Trek (the original) that deals with the issue of class conflict and the problems states face when the split between ruler and ruled is too great. Go to Courseweb-Videos-Star Trek-Class War.
Metropolis: A German classic dealing with class conflict in the Weimar era. But, this is relevant for the period under study.
Watch Metropolis in Movies Online | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
For more on this film go to: http://verdantmetropolis.homestead.com/metroindex.html
Recommended Reading:
Key Figures leading to the War
The Road to War: Contemporary documents from the march to war in 1914
8 September
In today's class we will continue our discussion of the Origins of the Great War and the various interpretation, focusing on Sheffield and Ferguson.
READING ASSIGNMENTS FOR NEXT WEEK:
Readings for next Tuesday 13 September: All VERY SHORT!
Print out and bring to class:
Download Powerpoint: The Avant Garde and the Great War on Courseweb to use for note taking in class.
Read:
Go to: http://www.historyguide.org/europe/lecture1.html and begin to read at: "By 1848, a revolutionary year throughout Europe."
Recommended:
Readings for next Thursday 15 September on the Beginning of the Great War:
Go to Courseweb - Download PowerPoint - "Outbreak of the Great War"
44-52 in Fero
How It Began: From the FirstWorldWar.com - Read through this and browse the different sources here
Go to Courseweb-Videos-Great War Videos - Then watch all three vides (approx. 4 minutes each). These are excellent and will help you understand why this war is sometimes called "The Incomprehensible."
Print this out and hold on to it for future reference. http://wps.ablongman.com/long_levack_west_2/0,11592,2899376-,00.html
For Fun- (Not Required)
Go to NewsBiscuit to read an interesting take on the famous football match during the Christmas Truce.
Quote from Blackadder [Recalling the 1914 Christmas truce]
Baldrick: Remember the football match?
Blackadder: Remember it? How could I forget it! I was never offside! I could not believe that decision
Short film that shows the Football Match Christmas 1914
Recommended:
Go to the BBC History Website to look at an animated map of how the Schlieffen Plan was to work and how it actually worked.
Listen to Niall Ferguson discuss why W.W.I was the century's worst war and why he blames Great Britain for prolonging the war.
Read about the Legendary 1914 Christmas Truce:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/195000/audio/_199768_frank_richards_xmas_1914__1954.ram
Personal Recollections in Real Audio - from the BBC's 80th Anniversary Site. There are also links to "Letters Home." The Christmas truce (BBC) Frank Richards of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers recalls the legendary Christmas truce of 1914. He says that as the Germans came over, the British threw off their equipment and went out to meet them, shaking hands and sharing rations.(1954)
Excerpts from letters on the Christmas Truce
Go to Courseweb-Videos- The Christmas Truce