What constitutes a "World War"?

Myself | 04/10/2003 | New Horizon

[New Horizon]

If anybody can give me an answer, it's FReepers. Are there specific prerequisites that would determine whether a war is classified as a "World War"?

Is it based on a number of countries involved, continents, or is is just a media generated thing?

Any help would be appreciated!

FReegards, NH

[freedom9]

"What constitutes a "World War"?

A bloody freakn mess

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[New Horizon]

LOL...you're dead on about that, but I was looking for something a little more "official".

[swaimh]

i think that several countries/coalitions actively fighting against each other constitute a world war. that and massive military build ups, hundreds of thousands if not millions of casualties.

well, from studying WWI and WWII, that's what i think constitutes a world war

[Jersey Kid]

The definition that I've read somewhere years ago is at least 6 countries must be involved, teritorially

[MozartLover]

Well, according to dictionary.com, it's "a war in which the major nations of the world are involved."

[RightWhale]

A World War is a war for control of a significant portion of the world. Thus the American War for Independence was a sideshow to an on-going World War in 1776. It was the French and the English fighting each other from Pittsburgh to P'yongyang. That war continues still: note the split at the UN over Iraq.

[Captain Rhino]

To follow on to your comment, my professor in a history of modern warfare class I took at the University of Washington said that, in terms of scope of operations, World Wars I and II ought to have been renumbered 5 and 6 respectively. In addition to the contest between the French and the British that you mentioned (which was fought in episodes around the world from the 1750's to Waterloo), there were the wars surrounding the Protestant Reformation (most of the 16th century and early 17th) and the contest between the British and the Dutch in the mid to late 17th century.

[New Horizon]

Bump. Thanks so far.

[douglassteve]

hey from what i have been told now im not sure if this is accurate but from what I have been told by people I have asked a war that is considered a world war involves a certain number of countries on each continent. Dont know if that is actually how a world war is defined but that is what I have heard!!!