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The Outbreak of WWI and the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand with Dr. Finn Ballard

The Outbreak of WWI and the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand with Dr. Finn Ballard


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In June of 1914, the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, would be assassinated in Sarajevo by the 19-year-old Bosnian Serb. The chaos that ensued would instigate the first global war, and the most deadly in human history - up to that point. This seminar will explore the outbreak of World War I, analyzing the complexities behind the beginning of the Great War and offering a clearer picture of just what happened in 1914.

At the turn of the twentieth century, the uneasy alliances between the major powers of Europe - and their cousin-monarchs - were fraying. The race for intra-European unification combined with the 'scramble for Africa' had seen the world's most avaricious empires expanding their territories enormously, both within the continent and overseas. In 1912, four Balkan states took on the might of the Ottoman Empire, weakening it enormously and causing a ripple effect that would resonate throughout the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. And then, a 19-year-old Bosnian Serb named Gavrilo Prinzip made his way to Sarajevo, and after a series of remarkable mishaps and one fateful coincidence, shot dead the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

In this seminar, we will unpack the intense complexities surrounding the outbreak of the Great War of 1914. We will examine how the tinderbox imperial greed and the development of horribly-modern technologies of death alighted in the first global war - and until that time, the most devastating in human history. And we will ponder the question: what if Prinzip had missed his chance?

Led by an expert on twentieth-century German history, Dr. Finn Ballard, this interactive seminar will illuminate the complexities of international relations in the early twentieth century. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of that fateful year, 1914.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 18 reviews
94%
(17)
6%
(1)
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Suzette Shelmire (Oxford, US)
Outbreak of WW1 and Franz Ferdinands Assasination

this was a most fantastic conversation of the history leading up to the outbreak of WW1 by explaining the complications of all the conflicts leading up to it Finn Ballard has such a wonderful way to organizing all the muddled conflicts!

C
C.F. (Santa Monica, US)
Another exceptional tour from Dr. Ballard!

This was another extraordinary tour by Dr. Ballard. I did not know very much about the subject, and the detail and pictures and Dr. Ballard‘s ability to take a very complicated set of facts and weave them Into a coherent story always makes these very interesting.

V
V.J. (Maple Grove, US)
Fascinating, entertaining history lesson

Everything you could ask for from an online seminar: intelligent, knowledgeable instructor unfurling fascinating facts of Franz Ferdinand's finale. Highly recommend this class.

N
N. (New York, US)
Unpacking the event

Dr. Ballard brings clarity and life to this piece of history and gives us a very fine lecture -- we meet all the characters, can view the scene. The lecture is almost cinematic in its approach.

Reviewer avatar
Keith Rabidoux (Goderich, CA)
Time Well Spent!

Thoroughly enjoyable. A very complex topic & Dr. Ballard did a great job covering the material with quite a bit of detail. For me, I have a passion for history especially the small details that relate to the person, not the event as a whole. I find I always learn something new; something I may have never heard before. Dr. Ballard did not disappoint; I learned several things about Frans Ferdinand and Sophie that I had not heard before as an example. This was definitely well worth both the time and the $35 fee.

Customer Reviews

Based on 18 reviews
94%
(17)
6%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
Suzette Shelmire (Oxford, US)
Outbreak of WW1 and Franz Ferdinands Assasination

this was a most fantastic conversation of the history leading up to the outbreak of WW1 by explaining the complications of all the conflicts leading up to it Finn Ballard has such a wonderful way to organizing all the muddled conflicts!

C
C.F. (Santa Monica, US)
Another exceptional tour from Dr. Ballard!

This was another extraordinary tour by Dr. Ballard. I did not know very much about the subject, and the detail and pictures and Dr. Ballard‘s ability to take a very complicated set of facts and weave them Into a coherent story always makes these very interesting.

V
V.J. (Maple Grove, US)
Fascinating, entertaining history lesson

Everything you could ask for from an online seminar: intelligent, knowledgeable instructor unfurling fascinating facts of Franz Ferdinand's finale. Highly recommend this class.

N
N. (New York, US)
Unpacking the event

Dr. Ballard brings clarity and life to this piece of history and gives us a very fine lecture -- we meet all the characters, can view the scene. The lecture is almost cinematic in its approach.

Reviewer avatar
Keith Rabidoux (Goderich, CA)
Time Well Spent!

Thoroughly enjoyable. A very complex topic & Dr. Ballard did a great job covering the material with quite a bit of detail. For me, I have a passion for history especially the small details that relate to the person, not the event as a whole. I find I always learn something new; something I may have never heard before. Dr. Ballard did not disappoint; I learned several things about Frans Ferdinand and Sophie that I had not heard before as an example. This was definitely well worth both the time and the $35 fee.