World war i

Definition

A global conflict from 1914 to 1918 triggered by alliance systems, imperialism, militarism, and nationalism. The war introduced industrialized warfare on an unprecedented scale and ended with the Treaty of Versailles, which redrew borders and planted seeds for future conflicts including World War II.

Examples

  • The alliance system turned a regional assassination into a continent-wide war within weeks
  • New technologies like machine guns, poison gas, and tanks made WWI uniquely deadly
  • The collapse of the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and German empires reshaped world politics
Key Fact

The M-A-I-N causes of WWI: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism.

Related Terms

Wwi Imperialism Total war World war ii

Study This Concept

Practice World War I with free review games in these units:

AP World History: Modern Unit 7: Global Conflict