What do you see in the
pictures? How do you
feel looking at these
pictures?
War is a disturbing feature of
human history.
Unit 1 – Lesson 3
What Is War and What Are the
Causes of War?
Wars
• Wars between countries (sometimes called Inter-State wars).
• Wars within states (sometimes called Intra-State wars or civil wars).
These Intra-State wars are the most common form of war in modern
times.
What can wars do?
• It is estimated that in World War Two, the deadliest war of all,
approximately 70 million people were killed.
• This dead toll is besides the other devastating and long-lasting
consequences that war brings to families and to societies
The Main Causes of War
1. Land Disputes over the ownership of territory have historically been common causes of war. Territory
is also sometimes desired to create a protection zone between two countries.
2. Economics/Resources The resources and wealth of one country might be sought after by another. This
is especially so if a country has been badly impacted by local or global economic problems.
3. Ideology, Politics and Power If one group holds particularly strong beliefs about how society should be
structured (ideologies) it may try and enforce those on other people or neighbouring countries.
Revolutions within a country can be started when large sections of the population fundamentally
disagree with the way that their country is being run. Civil wars are often triggered by competition
between groups for ruling power.
4. Empire Building Countries that want to expand their influence in the world
may try and conquer or colonize other countries to build an empire.
5. Cultural and Religious Differences A lack of tolerance for different cultural
and religious beliefs can result in tensions between groups that can escalate to
violence.
6. Nationalism and Ethnicity Nationalists may want to prove the superiority of
their country or race by invading others. Tensions between ethnic groups/tribes
within a country, especially if there is an imbalance of power, can lead to civil
wars.
7. Defence/pre-emption Conflict might be started in anticipation of a future attack
from the other side or to limit their ability to cause damage in case they did attack.
8. Proxy Wars These are wars that are fought by a country indirectly by supporting a
side in another conflict, maybe through financial or military aid, in the belief that it
will benefit its own country or harm another enemy.
9. Revenge Conflict might be started on the grounds that it is revenge for a past
wrong committed by the other side. This can easily lead to countries engaging in a
continuous and indefinite cycle of revenge attacks.
10. Justice Some wars are started to correct a perceived injustice or to secure
freedom
Answer the question2 on workbook page# 53
The Italo-Turkish
War
• Read Page 56
and answer the
questions
Exit Ticket
• On Teams
