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It's not just WW1, it's that the system or rules the society is organized in has changed. Under feudalism, one of its basic tenets was that vassals provided the
by pferde 3y ago
It's not just WW1, it's that the system or rules the society is organized in has changed. Under feudalism, one of its basic tenets was that vassals provided their liege with not only money, but certain amount of men for the army. Hence the "For everybody involved, it was a duty and a question of honor." part of the quote. Although I suspect that for common peasants, there was no sense of duty or honor in this, it was just a potentially family-destroying event, where men would be rounded up and marched off against their will to die.
Modern society sometimes still has that in limited form (mandatory military service), but it's very different, and time-limited.
- aldarion 3y ago"where men would be rounded up and marched off against their will to die" That is the thing, however - they weren't, at least not in feudal system. Peasants would be present only as personal servants of nobility, but weren't actually expected to fight. "All men under arms" is only typical of tribal society, but in that case theywere basically defending their homes - and also hoping to profit.
- tsimionescu 3y ago> Although I suspect that for common peasants, there was no sense of duty or honor in this, it was just a potentially family-destroying event, where men would be rounded up and marched off against their will to die. The article brings some pretty decent arguments that suggest you are wrong: > For common soldiers, it was an opportunity to get rich or at least gain some wealth. > Masses of peasants willingly went to try and liberate the Holy Land – only to get slaughtered because they did not wait for backup by professional soldiers. Later, during the Ottoman Wars, peasants under John Capistrano played a major role in defense of Belgrade. There was also the whole "children's crusade" episode.