You’ve probably heard of World War I and World War II—massive conflicts that changed everything. But what if the spark that started them wasn’t just a single assassination or a surprise attack? What if it all began decades earlier, with nations poking into each other’s business, building empires, and making promises they couldn’t keep? Once those dominoes started to fall, no one could stop what came next.

You’ll trace the events that led from one conflict to another, uncover how economic crashes, political chaos, and secret deals shaped entire generations, and see how two world wars helped create the world you live in today. Along the way, you’ll meet revolutionaries, dictators, soldiers, and everyday people caught in the middle of global chaos. You’ll also see how the ideas of freedom, control, and fear drove leaders to expand governments and build empires—including America’s.

Understanding what actually caused the two deadliest wars in human history doesn’t just explain the past—it helps you make sense of the world right now. Because when you realize how often history repeats itself, you start to notice when the dominoes are lining up again.