... of past times. But not before the second decade would be over Europe would have had experienced the widest spread conflict it had yet to encounter. Europe's first great war of the twentieth century had roots in a heritage that belonged to all Europe. That heritage was autocracy. Kings ruled by right of birth. And kings extended their rule where they could and called themselves emperors. Their imperialism conflicted with nationalism - with people wishing to be rid of foreign rule. This conflict extended into the twentieth century and sparked the Great War that began in 1914. And the Great War became the foundation of World War II and marked political and social developments for the entire century. The Great War was an evil created by kings who were looked upon as father figures, as decent and good men, men who in their personal lives were as good as ...

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