(Originais Teachy 2024) - Question Hard of History

World War I was a conflict that marked the transition between the predominance of traditional weaponry and the advent of unprecedented destructive technologies. The tension accumulated by imperialist rivalries, the established military alliances, and the complex European diplomatic system, known as the 'game of alliances', culminated in a conflict of global proportions. The idea of 'total war' materialized with the mass mobilization of armies and the civilian population, and battles became true tests of engineering and strategy. To add to the tragedy, the use of chemical weapons and the high human cost made this conflict a milestone in human history. Considering the presented historical context and reflecting on different points of view, analyze the following excerpt from Eric Hobsbawm, a British historian, in his work 'The Age of Extremes: The Short Twentieth Century, 1914-1991': 'World War I was a struggle for world hegemony, fought with all available resources, and ended up profoundly reshaping Europe and the world'. Discuss how military alliances and the pursuit of economic hegemony were determining factors for the beginning and evolution of World War I. Evaluate how the technological development during the conflict transformed combat strategies and the very concept of war.