10. Prelude to the First World War

When we think of the First World War, we think of a single moment: a gunshot in Sarajevo in the summer of 1914. We're taught that a complex system of alliances, a surge in nationalism, and an imperial arms race created a powder keg that was simply waiting for a spark. But what if that’s only the final chapter of a much, much older story? What if the real roots of the Great War aren’t found in the 20th century, or even the 19th, but are buried centuries deeper in the soil of European history? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.