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.
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:After completion of this course, students should be able to:
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.
This course may be counted towards a History, Contemporary Europe or International Relations major, and is a designated course for the BA (European Studies).
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].
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Workload130 hours of total student learning time made up from: a) 30 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 18 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials; and b) 100 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Keegan, John, The First World War, Vintage Books, 1998.
Strachan, Hew, The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War, Oxford University Press, 1998.
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
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- 6 units
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