Archdukes, Cynicism, and World War I: Crash Course World History #36
In which John Green teaches you about the war that was supposed to end all wars. Instead, it solved nothing and set the stage for the world to be back at war just a couple of decades later....
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Hi, I’m John Green, this is Crash Course World History, and today we’re gonna talk about World War I. The so-called, Great War? World War I wasn’t the most destructive war, or the first total war, and it certainly wasn’t - despite its billing - the war to end all wars. But it was the war to change all wars. World War I changed our outlook, it normalized cynicism and irony, which, I think you’ll agree, are kind of dominant lenses for describing our world today. Basically, I’d argue that World War I helped make possible everything from The Simpsons to intentionally unattractive mustaches. Mr. Green, Mr. Green! are you referring to me? Oh, Me From the Past, you’re an embarrassment to our family. Also to all our other selves. [theme music] Most pe...
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Hi, I’m John Green, this is Crash Course World History, and today we’re gonna talk about World War I. The so-called, Great War? World War I wasn’t the most destructive war, or the first total war, and it certainly wasn’t - despite its billing - the war to end all wars. But it was the war to change all wars. World War I changed our outlook, it normalized cynicism and irony, which, I think you’ll agree, are kind of dominant lenses for describing our world today. Basically, I’d argue that World War I helped make possible everything from The Simpsons to intentionally unattractive mustaches. Mr. Green, Mr. Green! are you referring to me? Oh, Me From the Past, you’re an embarrassment to our family. Also to all our other selves. [theme music] Most pe...
