1917: A network of "ententes" or political alliances between European countries had been signed wherein each promised to help its allies in case of war. Europe was divided by paper loyalties. As warring countries coerced their neutral allies to join in the war according to their agreements, there was a "domino" effect as the new aggressors called upon their neutral allies.

Today: Europe is attempting to create a universal agreement among its nations on several levels: economically through the "eurodollar," and politically through the European Union (Europa), a multinational European parliament.

1917: Europe was embroiled in a full-scale war that left no country, even those like Belgium that claimed neutrality, safe from invasion.

Today: Although the Kosovo crisis of 1998 threatened stability in Eastern Europe, decisive action on the part of NATO prevented the conflict from spreading to other countries.

1917: Influenza killed more people during and just...