The European Catastrophe, 1914-1945

The world wars of the twentieth century that originated in Europe have had obvious and undeniable consequences on modern history. From the perfection of mechanized warfare to the fall of the European imperial state system to the birth of bolshevism and fascism, this thirty-year war of the twentieth century scrambled the political, social, and cultural geography of Europe and ironically laid the groundwork for an enduring peace and inter-state unification in the postwar era. This course provides undergraduates with an introduction to the political, social, and cultural history of the period and will examine the origins and effects of the Great War, the polarization of politics in the interwar period, and the origins, execution, and consequences of World War II. 2 hrs lect/1 hr disc