Watch the video and take notice of the causes of the Great War: What was happening in the world just before the War? What kind of tensions, technology and economical conditions propitiated the Great War? Try to look into the influence of European Imperialism and the constant need of profit under industrial capitalism. Then ask yourself if the countries involved were fully conscious of what was going to happen next. 

In the following video you'll find a comprehensive summary of what happened in Colombia at the end of the 19th century. The Liberal and Conservative Party were in the middle of a militar conflict that lasted almost half a century. The 'Guerra de los mil días' is just the last consequence of this historical rivalry between political parties. As a direct consequence, we as a country lost Panama (and with it, the possibility of controlling one of the most important comercial routes in the world). Try to notice the influence of external agents into the conflict (several countries participated in the war, helping one or the other), as well as the constant neglect of our goverment into the Panama issue. It would be a good thing to ask: why is the country so violent from the get-go? What kind of unresolved issues provoke this conflict for so long? Do you consider we are still on the conditions of civil war?