World War I was not simply a conflict among European states but a global war among empires. The fighting took place not only in Europe, east and west, but also in Africa, Asia, and across the Middle East, and it involved, as soldiers or laborers, millions of Africans and Asians. The postwar settlement, in turn, had vast implications for the world outside Europe. It created expectations, drew borders, and ignited movements that have helped define the history of those regions, and of the world, ever since.
Presented during Modern Foundations: The Treaty of Versailles and American Philanthropy, a WWI Centennial Symposium at the Palace of Versailles on June 28, 2019.