Which conflict is often referred to as the first global war?

The Seven Years' War is often referred to as the first global war due to its unprecedented scale and the range of territories involved. Fought between 1756 and 1763, it included numerous powers across Europe and their colonies in North America, the Caribbean, West Africa, India, and the Philippines, making it a truly worldwide conflict.

The war saw major European powers, including Great Britain, France, and Spain, engage in military operations on multiple continents, fundamentally altering the balance of power and colonial possessions in a way that had never been seen before. This conflict set the stage for future international relations and wars, leading to significant territorial changes and the emergence of Great Britain as a global power. The global implications of this conflict are why it is labeled the first global war, as it involved multiple theaters of warfare and had a worldwide impact on political arrangements.