Beyond the mud and blood: The First World War and the social, political and cultural impact and legacy on ordinary people

While the first global conflict of the modern world fuelled military and leadership challenges, it also created an environment of social, political and cultural unrest.

2024 was 110 years since the start of the First World War. Rather than returning to the battles and key events, this course explores some of the wider issues and events that happened as a result of the conflict but which are often overlooked in the grand narratives. We have gathered historians who specialise in the period and cross-period themes who address some of the legacies that those events have had in the following decades.

How is the course structured? 

This self-guided short course is 100% online. The resources are structured but can be dipped into at any time, so you can work through them at your own pace and convenience. Through this unit you can access:

• 6 recorded lectures by historical experts 
• Access to our curated resource unit 
• A recorded workshop and discussion session 

These materials were originally compiled and produced as part of our live short course on the impact and legacy of the First World War. The course ran from January to March 2024.