World War I started 100 years ago, a war on an unprecedented scale. Though it ended five years later, the stage was set for an even bigger war less than 25 years later.

In marking the centennial of this major event, MOOC provider Futurelearn is offering MOOCs from four leading UK universities on different aspects of the war starting in October. These are being developed in partnership with the BBC, which is providing unique archival content for these MOOCs. The BBC also maintains a resource page on WWI.

This is the BBC’s first pilot effort involving MOOCs, and should provide a unique opportunity for the interested public around the world to learn further about this world-changing event. The four MOOCs, along with their start dates (the courses are three weeks each and do overlap) are below:

World War 1: Paris 1919 – A New World Order?

This course reassesses the legacy of the Paris Peace Conference (1919) and how it sought to create a new world order.

World War 1: Aviation Comes of Age

This course investigates how the white heat of innovation in World War One shaped the history of human flight.

World War 1: Trauma and Memory

Discover the traumatic effects of war on those that survive it, from the soldiers on the front lines to the civilians at home.

World War 1: Changing Faces of Heroism

Learn how the war moved us away from traditional views of heroism and created new kinds of heroes and heroines.