I’ve always wondered this. The 7 Years war was fought on multiple continents and decided the world as we know it, just like both World Wars. I just don’t get why it wasn’t seen as a world war and I came here to ask why.
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In addition to other answers, if you were “Just some guy” in the 7 years war, the fighting is not likely to effect you or your family.
Meanwhile WW1 and WW2 had significant impacts on almost every human. Food shortages affected all nations in WW1. An entire generation was conscripted, and many died. The type of munitions also meant if they front moved to you, you were out of luck. The 7 years war you could just wave a white hankerchief out your window, give your food to the enemy troops and quarter them a bit, and most of the time that’d be the end of it.
WW1, your house, your town, its all gone. Destroyed. More than destroyed, it is now uninhabitable for years.
WW2 this becomes even starker with the strategic bombing campaigns, nuclear weaponry, and genocidal actions, as well as the ideological death struggle that underpins it.
WW1 had 6-13 million civilian casualties. Meanwhile the 7 years war was infrequent enough that you’ll struggle to even find a measurement of how many civilians died.
The armies of the world fought in the seven years war. But the *world* was at war in WW1 and WW2. It defined the lives of everyone who lived through it.
A 40 year old factory worker in the 7 years war:
“We’re at war with France.”
“Oh? Um. Okay.”
A 40 year old factory worker in WW1:
“We’re at war with Germany.”
“Oh? Um. Okay.”
“So there’s no bread this week.”
“…”
“And we’re taking your son.”
“… what the fu-”
A 40 year old factory worker in WW2.
“We’re at war with Germany. Again.”
“So no bread? And you’re taking my son?”
“Yes. Also… um… your house might explode. So you’re gonna need to do some military style drills on how to deal with that if it happens.”
“… what the fu-“.
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