[fhayek]

I propose that there were several world wars before 1914. The American Revolution was part of a greater world war. There were the Napoleanic wars. The war for Spanish succession. Several others. If this is world war, its probably WWX or so.

[Orangedog]

WWI marked an new era in warfare in many areas. What made this the first true World War was the sheer number of countries involved. It wasn't really called World War I at the time. From what I have heard and read, it was either called The Great War or some variation on that. Also, the end of it really left the world a different place. Almost no nation was left unaffected. No war like it had ever been faught.

WWII was WWI on steroids. Every power left standing after WWI was invited. I don't think that the Cold War should be considered WWIII, but instead, IMO, should more appropriately be considered an extention of WWII, but not going as far as revising the end of the war to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It just doesn't seem right to say that WWIII has already happened. It was pretty much a common belief for a couple of generations that WWIII would be nuclear.