The First World War was called the “war to end all wars”, but was soon reviled as a senseless slaughter that solved nothing and created problems that plagued the rest of the twentieth century. This course focuses on the War and its immediate aftermath, and will use a number of perspectives from diplomatic, military, social and intellectual history. The course will also take a comparative approach to acquaint students with the similarities and differences between the major protagonists’ first experiences of total war. The course will end by examining the Treaty of Versailles and its legacies for the modern age.

1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the causes, conduct, and outcomes of the Great War;

2. Understand the development of key interpretations of the causes, conduct and consequences of the Great War;

3. Demonstrate continued development in your research, analytic, and writing skills;

4. Improve your ability to reflect critically on the Great War's historiography and its key primary sources;

5. Demonstrate and improve your oral presentation skills; and

6. Show your understanding of the historical significance of the Great War.

1. A research essay of 3,000 words (50%), [Assesses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6].

2. A formal examination (40%) [Assesses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 4 and 6].

3. Tutorial performance (10%) [Assesses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 4 and 5].

13 x 90 min lectures, weekly tutorials. Lectures will be streamed.

First-year courses in History or Political Science to the value of 12 units, or with permission of the Convenor.

Keegan, John, The First World War, Vintage Books, 1998.

Strachan, Hew, The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War, Oxford University Press, 1998.

This course may be counted towards a History, Contemporary Europe or International Relations major, and is a designated course for the BA (European Studies).