A giant of a book, hugely well researched and hugely entertaining: Notes below: This book’s central argument is that popular consent was indispensable in fighting the twentieth century’s first ‘total war’. It recounts how the German and Austro-Hungarian peoples supported, tolerated or submitted to the conflict, and how participation changed them and their societies. Three themes run through the pages of this book. First, it explores how consent for war was won and maintained

First trip abroad since Covid. Notes below :) Bulgars from Iran. Mixed with Slavs. First Bulgarian state. Roman invasion. Roman/Greek influences. Natural springs, Romans thought they were healing. Became a famous and lucrative health resort. It was also on a crossroads between Germany, Greece, and Russia. Impassable mountains made natural city walls. Only three natural entrances to defend. Romans fall. They briefly consider making Sofia the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire