Dr. Michael Reynolds, historian and author of Shattering Empires: The Clash and Collapse of the Ottoman and Russian Empires, 1908-1918, explores the Ottoman Empire's losing struggle to preserve its existence from 1876 to 1914 to explain why the Ottomans made the decision to enter the Great War on the side of the Central Powers in 1914.

Presented at the World War I Historical Association Symposium, "The Coming of the Great War," November 8-9, 2013.

Recorded November 8, 2013 in J.C. Nichols Auditorium at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial.

For more information about the National WWI Museum and Memorial visit http://theworldwar.org