Wars – Causes, Events, and Consequences

Introduction

In human history, wars have created major turning points. Factors such as politics, economy, territory, and ethnic identity lead to wars. From ancient times to the modern era, the nature and impact of wars have evolved.

Timeline

146 BCE → Romans destroyed the city of Carthage
28.06.1914 → Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
1914–1918 → First World War
1919 → Treaty of Versailles
01.09.1939 → Germany invaded Poland
1939–1945 → Second World War
06.08.1945 & 09.08.1945 → Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1949 → Geneva Conventions
1977 → Additional Geneva Protocols

Causes of Wars

1. Economic Causes
Control over crude oil and rare mineral resources
Acquisition of fertile lands
Water resources and border disputes

2. Political Causes
Dictatorship vs Democracy
Imperialist expansion policies

3. Nationalism
Ethnic and national conflicts
Example: Serbian nationalism → 1914 assassination

First World War (1914–1918)

Cause:
28.06.1914 → Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

Event:
Austria vs Serbia
Russia, Germany, and other European nations participated

Consequences:
Approximately 10 million soldiers died
Millions of civilians were affected

Second World War (1939–1945)

Cause:
Violation of the Treaty of Versailles
01.09.1939 → Germany invaded Poland

Major Powers:
Nazi Germany (Hitler)
Fascist Italy (Mussolini)
Japan

Major Events:
06.08.1945 → Hiroshima atomic bombing
09.08.1945 → Nagasaki atomic bombing

Consequences:
Millions of people died
Global political transformation

War and Humanitarian Laws

Geneva Conventions (1949)
Protection of civilians
Protection of wounded soldiers
Rights of prisoners of war

1977 Additional Protocols
Prohibition of attacks on civilians
Protection of property

Modern Wars (Current Relevance)

Russia–Ukraine War (2022– )
Middle East conflicts
High civilian impact
International laws are often violated

Consequences

Humanitarian Impact
High civilian casualties
Refugee crisis

Economic Impact
Global economic crisis
Increase in oil prices

Political Impact
Formation of new nations
Shift in global power balance

Important Exam Points

Start of WW1 → 1914 (Assassination)
Start of WW2 → 1939 (Invasion of Poland)
Geneva Conventions → 1949
Atomic bombings → 1945
Causes → Economic + Political + Nationalism

Summary

Wars have caused massive destruction in human history. Resources, power, and nationalism are key drivers of wars. World wars reshaped global political and economic systems. Although humanitarian laws exist, they are not properly implemented in many cases.