This course will cover the road to war, including the European system of interlocking alliances, the effects of previous 19th Century conflicts, competition among the great powers of the day, and the decline of empires. We will study the conduct of the Great War in multiple theaters, with an emphasis on political events and military operations in the Middle East. We will also examine the great power agreements, treaties, and territorial changes which ended the conflict. Finally we will explore the legacy of World War I that is still causing instability and violence in the Middle East today.