World war

A world war is a military conflict affecting the majority of the world's countries. World wars usually span multiple continents, and are very bloody and destructive.

Classification as a world war

The specific qualities that make up a world war are open to debate, however, the following are a reasonable set of criteria:

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Alliances

Normally, there are groups of nations on each side in two alliances or distinct groups.

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In the American Revolutionary War, the sides were aligned between the United States, France, Spain and the Netherlands against Great Britain and minor German States. The Great War of 1914-1918, the sides were aligned between Japan, China, Brazil, Cuba, United States, British Empire, France, Arabian Empire, Serbia, Montenegro, Luxembourg, Italy, Romania and the Russian Empire against the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia and the Ottoman Empire.

Related Topics:
American Revolutionary War - United States - France - Spain - Netherlands - Great Britain - The Great War - Japan - China - Brazil - Cuba - British Empire - Arabian Empire - Serbia - Montenegro - Luxembourg - Italy - Romania - Russian Empire - German Empire - Austria-Hungary - Bulgaria - Croatia - Ottoman Empire

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Happened on more than one continent

The Great War of 1914-1918 was fought in China, The Pacific Ocean, Arabia, Africa and the North Atlantic as well as Europe. The Seven Years War (1754-1763) was fought in India, and North America as well as Europe. The Second World War of 1939-1945 was fought first in China, and then later in Greenland, Alaska, off the coast of Argentina, and in Africa, Arabia and North America as well as Europe and the Pacific Ocean.

Related Topics:
China - Pacific Ocean - Arabia - Africa - North Atlantic - Europe - Seven Years War - India - North America - Second World War - Greenland - Alaska - Argentina

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Great numbers of deaths

A World War is also characterized by the great number of deaths, often both military and civilian. The Second World War is an extreme example of this: lowest estimates put the death count at forty million, including many Russian or Chinese civilians, and nearly ten million killed in the Holocaust. Although earlier wars do not exhibit such great numbers, seen in the light of the world's population at the time, they were extremely destructive.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Holocaust

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World War comparison