I am interested in the existence of precursor wars, whether they are myths or actually recognized parts of military history. For example, I have heard that the Anglo-Boer Wars were precursor wars to World War I. How is that so? Can certain smaller wars be identified as precursors to other larger wars? Do these precursor wars have particular name?
This is not an established way of classification. What it means is that some new tactics or technologies are first used and developed in a smaller conflict (or as a reaction to it) before becoming part of a later war.
For example the Boer wars showed that modern artillery and rifle fire was more accurate, leading to changes in infantry tactics.