Explenation;

We all know of the Napoleonic war, it stretched over multiple continents (like a World War), most of the participants of WW1 were in it (Excluding Ottomen), new technologies were tested during the war (rockets).

Only difference is that, unlike the other World Wars Germany wasn't the juggernaut starting it.



--------------------- CONCLUSION -------------------------------------------

From now on we should refer to WW1 as WW2, WW2 as WW3 and the Napoleonic War as WW1.

Edited 4/15/2015 19:02:31

Except US wasn't allied with France or Napoleon. While the War of 1812 was partly caused due to events of the Napoleonic Wars, the two wars were separate.

Napoleon was cool

The 7 Years war is WWI
The Napoleonic Wars are WWII
The Great War is WWIII
The War With Nukes is WWIV

That's stretching it, however.

First world war was some war between Egypt, Greece and Persia. Three continents.

^ Plus that was before the Americas had even been heard of

Technically X, that's all one continent. But in political terms, yes. That could be considered the first world War, considering a clash of ideals (imperialism vs despotism vs monarchy/democracy).

Technically, it's still three: Eurasia, Africa and Arabia

Inferring Arabia isn't in Eurasia???

...I think Bashar/Putin/Lukashenko would disagree.

If we're going to take "multiple continents" as acceptable to define a world war, then what about the time Assyria invaded Egypt?

Yep, that's three continents as well.

World wars have been going on since antiquity.

Except Arabia is not a continent...

By my definition of continents, it is.

What exactly is your definition? Just keep to the standard, worldwide recognized continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Antarctica, North and South America (or America as 1 continent). Continents are not defined as the plates- if it was, there would be alot of tiny continents and only ocean continents.

My definition of a continent is a tectonic plate. Just because you end up with several smaller continents, doesn't mean there is anything wrong with them.

Oceania is not a continent, it is simply a geographic region. Australia is the actual continent.

The 7 continent view of the world is flawed. What continent is New Zealand in, and several other countries included in the geographic region Oceania?

The only problem with the tectonic plate continents though - sometimes they go so much against what we traditionally think of.

For example, Hokkaido is part of North America. So is Chukotka.

And my definition of a continent is one acre. I even own my own continent!

Having your own definition of a commonplace term is completely asinine.

But then you get frains like where to draw the line. Is Cyprus in Europe? Is Baki in Europe?

Tectonic plates and "one acre continents" aside, the Assyrian invasion of Egypt was transcontinental. What should a "World War" be defined as, anyway?