In this episode #41, we explore the key events that led to World War I, from a shocking assassination to rising militarism and secret alliances. We dive into misconceptions, social ideologies like Social Darwinism, and the rapid escalation that plunged the world into chaos. Discover how nations mobilized for battle, and how Europe’s power struggles turned into a global conflict.

(00:00) - The Spark That Ignited War

(02:51) - The Scale of the Conflict

(04:04) - Assassination That Changed Everything

(11:38) - Tensions in the Balkans

(16:21) - Balance of Power

(18:16) - Germany's Rise to Power

(29:54) - Militarism

(31:39) - Social Darwinism

(32:08) - Conscription

(32:51) - The Morocco Crisis

(33:42) - A Ballerina's Perspective

(34:27) - Shifting Dynamics of Power

(37:04) - Misconceptions of War

(40:00) - The Concept of Übermensch

(40:49) - Predicting the War

(42:10) - Berlin to Baghdad: A Hidden Agenda

(42:31) - The Role of Fatalism

(43:40) - France-Great Britain

(47:36) - Alliances That Shaped the War

(48:14) - Conflicts in Southeastern Europe

(1:06:02) - How War Escalated Rapidly

(1:09:20) - Schlieffen Plan

(1:12:50) - Too Late

(1:14:52) - Secret Meeting

(1:16:22) - Mobilization Begins

(1:17:49) - Brink of Madness

(1:29:29) - Discovering the Root Cause

(1:33:46) - Key Recommendations for Understanding

The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman - https://amzn.to/48ij0S7

A World Undone by G. J. Meyer - https://amzn.to/3NvCPMe

The Sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark - https://amzn.to/3YsU6M8

The Great Illusion by Sir Norman Angell - https://amzn.to/4dPt6ej

They Shall Not Grow Old - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7905466/