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A new video essay from delve

100 summers ago the countries of Europe collapsed quickly into war: it was sudden but also kind of inevitable. Countless books have been written since about the causes of the Great War, but in this video essay we offer an alternative history. By tracing the story backwards in time we stumble upon a very unexpected cause and discover that sometimes the most harmless of things can have terrible consequences. 

Story Design & Direction: Adam Westbrook 
Animation: Adam Westbrook
Additional Photography: Brett Walsh www.brettwalshphotography.com
Archive footage from the US National Archives released in the public domain
Stock footage via Videohive and Pond5
All photographs in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Satie’s Gymnopedie No. 2 performed by Kevin McLeod www.incompetech.com
Additional music and sound effects via AudioJungle 
Story assistance from Caroline Vanier, Cody Delistraty and Chris Schaefer.

Here are the books I used in researching this essay.

  • The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Guns-August-Bestselling-Outbreak/dp/0241968216/
  • The War that Ended Peace by Margaret Macmillan https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-War-that-Ended-Peace/dp/1846682738/ 
  • Catastrophe: Europe Goes to War 1914 by Max Hastings https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catastrophe-Europe-Goes-War-1914/dp/0007519745/
  • Dreadnought: Britain, Germany and the coming of the Great War by Robert K Massie https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dreadnought-Britain-Germany-Coming-Great-ebook/dp/B00D5FOGL6
  • The Last Kaiser by Giles MacDonogh https://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Kaiser-Life-Wilhelm-II/dp/0312305575/
  • The Influence of Sea Power on History 1660-1783 by Alfred T Mahan https://www.amazon.co.uk/Influence-Power-Upon-History-1660-1783

A Little History of the World No.11

OK so it’s 800 BCE and now we can introduce some people you’ve definitely heard of. But Ancient Greece wasn’t really a single society as the name suggests, but a collection of smaller, competing, tribes. They included the Ionians who founded Athens and the Dorians better known as the Spartans.

A Little History Of The World No3

The Egyptian civilisation, of pharaohs and pyramids, lasted nearly 3000 years from 3150 BCE to its decline around 550 BCE. Even then it was still an important kingdom for another 500 or so years until 30 BCE.

It was stable, strict and mostly peaceful. Its ending was sudden and unexpected (we’ll get to that soon), but still no empire or civilisation has even come close to such a reign.

Last edits coming together for our brand new history series launching on Tuesday next week. 

You’ll want to be following us on Instagram to enjoy it.

We’re beginning pre-production on an exciting new project on our Instagram channel.

The entire history of civilisation, in 15-second chapters. Yep, you heard right! It’s a chance to fill in the gaps in your historical knowledge, and a tribute to a wonderful history book from the 1930s. 

Fingers crossed the first one will be up in April. Make sure you’re following us over at Instagram!