The First World War

The book, part of the Modern Times Sourcebooks series, is divided into eight parts and consists of 47 units which give equal weight to the trenches, technology and war, the home front and much more. It provides introductions which place the sources in context, and offers source material from memoirs, diaries, letters, speeches and official reports as well as photographs and specially drawn maps, the book emphasizes the "human" side of war, balancing grand strategy with the experiences of fighting people. This book will be a useful resource for teachers covering this period at GCSE. It contains questions and activities on the sources which encourage the use of historical skills, both in individual and group work, and which help to deepen pupils' understanding of the war itself and their understanding of how it throws into relief the issues of continuity and change in the history of the 20th century. The book aims to illustrate the War's legacy in the form of new military and medical technology, changed social attitudes and values, and a re-arranged global balance of power.
The book contains short introductions which place the sources in context and questions which encourage the use of historical skills, both in individual and group work. The book is intended to be used by secondary school students in their third year and is suitable for those studying for Modern World LEAG Syllabus A and SEG Syllabus 4 and 5 examinations.