PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY: The First World War, Class 1

April 04, 2017
7:00pm - 7:00pm

Class 1: Prelude to War

In retrospect, the decision by the Great Powers to go to war in the summer of 1914 ranks as one of the greatest acts of folly in history. Why, at the moment of their maximum global dominance, did the Europeans choose to fall upon one another in a fratricidal war. Join us as we explore the interlocking system of alliances, the arms races on land and sea, the continuing imperial rivalry, and the increasingly frequent pace of international crises that lead to the fateful days in July of 1914 when Europe is plunged into what forever will be known as “The Great War.”

Instructor: Dr. Gary Kappel

Dr. Kappel is Perry E. and Aleece C. Gresham Chair in Humanities and Professor of History at Bethany College. He earned his B.A. at Bethany College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. at West Virginia University.

In keeping with the mission of public libraries as sanctuaries of free learning for all people, the Ohio County Public Library created The People’s University, a free program for adults who wish to continue their education in the liberal arts. The People’s University features courses—taught by experts in each subject—that enable patrons to pursue their goal of lifelong learning in classic subjects such as history, philosophy, and literature.