World War I Notes

• I really liked the "If World War One Was a Bar Fight" text, and I actually found it pretty useful. Putting the entirety of a world war into something simple we can understand helps us understand the motives behind some of the chain of events, even if they are overly-simplified and not entirely accurate. It's also humorous, which makes it easier to read and relate to.
• I learned that WWI was almost effectively a clash of egos and pride rather than actual conflict. The initial conflict would have possibly led to a war, but due to the system of alliances that had been established in WWI, so many extra players joined in.
• There were ultimately two groups involved in WWI: The Allies and the Central Powers. The Allies were Britain, France, Russia, and some smaller countries. The Central Powers were mostly Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and some smaller countries.
• While the text is funny and informative, it still has its problems. A few events are misinterpreted, and as I said previously, it was very simplified.
• A lot of smaller events that led to the war's beginning that raised tension throughout Europe are completely glossed over, and instead the bar fight starts with one event. It also does not completely discuss the motives for some of the actions, which partially adds to the humorous nature of the reading.
• The assassination of Franz Ferdinand may have been the spark that started the war, but there were many other things that could have potentially been a cause of the fighting. I personally view the cause as all of the complicated alliances, alongside with a shared desire for their countries to expand and flourish, and having no place left to do so.