2. Total war: World War 1 was the first truly total war, meaning that it involved the entire resources and populations of the belligerent nations. This meant that not only were soldiers fighting on the front lines, but civilians were also targeted in bombing raids and other attacks. The war also saw an unprecedented level of propaganda and censorship, as governments sought to control the flow of information and maintain public support for the war effort.
3. Duration of the war: World War 1 lasted for over four years, which gave the belligerents time to develop and deploy new weapons and tactics. This led to a continuous escalation in the level of destruction, as each side tried to gain an advantage over the other.
4. Global scale of the war: World War 1 was the first global conflict, involving countries from all over the world. This meant that the war had a far greater impact than previous conflicts, which had been largely confined to Europe. The war also led to the deaths of millions of civilians in distant colonies and territories.
In conclusion, World War 1 was so much more destructive than earlier conflicts due to a combination of factors, including industrialization, total war, the duration of the war, and the global scale of the conflict. These factors combined to create a war that was unprecedented in its levels of death and destruction, and that had a profound impact on the course of history.