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The Most Influential Person in Modern History: No Creator, Thinker, or Leader
- karmakaze 7y agoGranted this is a trigger of the major events that followed. I wouldn't classify it as influential per se. The conditions that prevailed were built up of many factors over time. This act was like a spark of a forest fire. If it wasn't this act another could be as effective. Influence I would say is creating a coherent view in many people toward a purpose.
- mywittyname 7y agoMy understanding has been that historians generally agree that Austria-Hungary was going to declare war on Serbia regardless and Ferdinand's assassination was just a convenient excuse. But if not this event, some other inevitable action would be used as a casus belli. My vote still goes to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Haber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Haber .
- todd8 7y agoPerhaps, but just as conditions in Europe might have inevitably led to war given the right spark, couldn’t the discovery of the chemical engineering to develop fertilizer have been just around the corner and if not Frank Haber, one of his students or some other chemist might have found it. I agree with you though that it was a turning point for mankind.
- mywittyname 7y ago> if not Frank Haber, one of his students or some other chemist might have found it. Sure, and we'd credit that person instead.
- todd8 7y agoHow true!
- acheron 7y agoIf you're interested in the leadup to WWI, I recommend this book: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780061146657/the-sleepwalkers/ https://www.harpercollins.com/9780061146657/the-sleepwalkers...
- paulie_a 7y agoAlso I would recommend Kissinger's book diplomacy.
- ekimekim 7y agoIf books aren't your thing, I also highly recommend the BBC's miniseries 37 Days [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37_Days_(TV_series) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37_Days_(TV_series)] for a slightly dramatized, but still highly educational take on the titular period between Ferdinand's assassination and the declaration of war.
- kop316 7y agoI cannot find the book off hand, but there was a fascinating book that argued that throughout history, war has been the norm and peace the exception (and converted me to that opinion as well). The book argued that the reason that peace happened for so long was because someone held it together. That person (the book argued) was Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck even was quoted in 1987 saying that "One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans."
- erikig 7y agoPretty sure that was in 1887. That quote would have been 2 wars too late in 1987...