Convulsed by war. But in ancient times they were not of such a large-scale nature as in the 20th century. How many world wars have there been on planet Earth? There were two such conflicts: the First World War and the Second World War. A huge amount of destruction, the death of millions of soldiers and civilians- these are the results of such military campaigns.
Modern people mainly know about military conflicts from history textbooks and feature films and documentaries. But not everyone understands the meaning of the term “world war.” What does this expression mean, and how many world wars have there been?
An armed conflict that involves several continents and involves at least twenty countries is called a world war. As a rule, these countries are united against one common enemy. In modern history, there have been two such conflicts: at the beginning of the 20th century, the First World War began, and at the end of the 30s of the same century, the Second World War. Many countries were drawn into both armed conflicts: Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, Russia, USA, Japan. All participating countries suffered huge losses, causing a lot of grief, death and destruction to the population. How many world wars there were, their duration and outcome concern everyone who is interested in history.
European countries at the beginning of the new century were in a state of division into two opposing camps. The confrontation was between France and Germany. Each of these countries was looking for allies in a future war. After all, maintaining it requires enormous resources. In this confrontation, England supported France, and Austria-Hungary supported Germany. The unrest began in Europe long before that shot was fired in Sarajevo in 1914, which became the start of hostilities.
To overthrow the monarchy in countries such as Russia and Serbia, the Freemasons of France pursued inflammatory policies and pushed states towards war. How many world wars and non-world wars there have been, they all began with one event that became the starting point. So the assassination attempt on Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, committed in Sarajevo in June 1914, became the reason for the introduction of Austrian troops into Serbia. Austria-Hungary officially declared war on Serbia on July 15, 1914 and bombed Belgrade the next day.
Slavic Serbia is an Orthodox country. Russia has always been its patron. In this situation, Russian Tsar Nicholas II could not stand aside and asked the Kaiser of Germany not to support Austria-Hungary in this “ignoble” war. In response to this, the German ambassador, Count Pourtales, handed the Russian side a note declaring war.
Behind short term all the major states of Europe entered the war. Russia's allies were France and England. Germany and Austria-Hungary fought against them. Gradually, 38 states were drawn into the war, with a total population of almost a billion people. How long did the world war last? It lasted four years and ended in 1918.
It seemed that the experience of the First World War and the terrible loss of life should have become a lesson for the countries participating in the conflict. How many world wars there were is written in all school textbooks. But humanity is stepping on the same rake for the second time: the conclusion following the First World War did not satisfy countries such as Germany and Turkey. Territorial disputes followed, increasing tensions in Europe. The fascist movement has intensified in Germany, and the country is sharply beginning to increase its military potential.
Germany took military action and invaded Poland. This became In response to the actions of Germany, France and England declared war on the aggressor, but did not provide any support to Poland, and it was very quickly occupied - within 28 days. How many years did the world war last, which drew 61 states of the world into confrontation? It ended in 1945, in September. Thus, it lasted exactly 6 years.
The Second World War was all over. It was in this war that it was first used nuclear weapon. Many states rallied against. It was an anti-Hitler bloc, whose members were: the USSR, France, Greece, England, the USA, China and a number of other countries. Many of them did not directly take part in hostilities, but provided all possible assistance by supplying medicines and food. There were also many countries on the side of Nazi Germany: Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Finland.
The main stages in this war are considered to be the following periods:
So, in September 1945, World War II ended. How many soldiers and civilians died can only be said approximately. Until now, researchers are finding burial places that remain from the time of this brutal and destructive war for all humanity.
According to a rough estimate of experts, the losses of all parties to the conflict amounted to 65 million people. Of course, the countries that took part in the war lost the most Soviet Union. This is 27 million citizens. The entire blow fell on them, as the Red Army put up stubborn resistance to the fascist invaders. But according to the Russian estimate, the death toll is much higher, and the figure presented is too low. There have been many world wars on the planet, but history has never known such losses as in the Second. Foreign experts agreed that the Soviet Union's losses were the most enormous. The figure given is 42.7 million human lives.
Throughout its history, humanity has been at war. After all, with the help of a weapon it is so easy to take something from a neighbor. However, he also rushes to defend himself. Armed conflicts take lives. In attempts to radically change the world or seize vast territories, people are ready to kill millions of their own kind.
One Swiss researcher, Jean-Jacques Babel, came to the conclusion that in the entire known history of mankind, over the past 5,500 years, we have lived in the world for only 292 years. And there were different wars - some local and bloodless, while others were global, which carried away a significant part of the planet's population. Our story will be about the bloodiest wars in history.
Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). Thanks to the genius of Napoleon, the history of France took a sharp turn. Until recently, the country, drained of blood by the revolution, barely fought off the attacks of the interventionists. But suddenly the French army itself began to actively participate in the redistribution of European political map. The wars that Napoleon waged from 1799 to 1815 were called Napoleonic. The commander cherished plans for large-scale conquests even before he became First Consul. And having received power, he began to realize his dream. The Napoleonic Wars included the Hanoverian Campaign, the War of the Third Coalition with the participation of Russia, Austria and France in 1805, the War of the Fourth Coalition, where Prussia took the place of Austria in 1806-1807. This period ended with the Peace of Tilsit. But in 1809 the war of the Fifth Coalition with Austria took place, in 1812 - Patriotic War. After it, the war of the Sixth Coalition of European countries that opposed Bonaparte also took place. And the war that shook the continent with the period of the “Hundred Days” and Waterloo ended. A series of wars for the redistribution of influence in Europe cost the lives of 3.5 million people. However, some historians consider this figure to be underestimated by half.
Civil War in Russia (1917-1923). The 1917 revolution in Russia turned into a devastating Civil War. Some fought for new power and imaginary freedoms, others tried to return the previous regime, and others simply strove to seize territory or gain sovereignty. Everything was mixed up in this bloody mess - brother went against brother, father fought with son. As a result, the Civil War in Russia claimed the lives of at least 5.5 million people, although there is even talk of 9 million. For the entire population of the planet, losses amounted to only about half a percent. It may seem like a little, but for our country the confrontation between the Reds and the Whites turned out to have dire consequences. It is no coincidence that General Denikin canceled all awards in his army. How can we celebrate people who kill their own fellow citizens? And the Civil War did not end in 1920 with the evacuation of the last White Guards from Crimea. The Bolsheviks suppressed the last pockets of resistance in Primorye until 1923, and the Basmachi Central Asia haunted the new government until the early 1940s.
Dungan uprising (1862-1869). These events began in 1862 in Northwest China. National minorities, who were tired of the oppression of the Chinese and Manchu feudal lords, opposed the Qing Empire. But English-speaking historians see the reasons for the uprising not at all in religious contradictions, but in class and racial contradictions, which were also determined by economic reasons. Muslim Chinese had previously opposed the imperial regime, but in 1862 a favorable situation arose - the army was engaged in suppressing other uprisings. So in May 1862, a rebellion broke out in the provinces of Shanxi and Gansu. The rebels did not have a unified government; the clergy, who declared war on the infidels, tried to direct the movement in the right direction. Mosques became the center of the rebellion; warehouses and hospitals were set up there. The explosion of religious fanaticism led to a bloody massacre. Over time, the authorities assembled a powerful army and brutally suppressed the uprising. In total, according to various estimates, from 8 to 12 million people died in that war. And the remaining Dungans fled so far that they reached the Russian Empire. Today, the descendants of the Chinese rebels still live in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan.
Rebellion of Ai Lushan (755-763). Historians believe that it was during the Tang Dynasty that China reached its maximum greatness, surpassing other world countries in development. And erupted in this era Civil War became no less grandiose. Historians call those events the Ai Lushan Rebellion. Emperor Xuanzong, together with his beloved concubine Yang-Guifei, especially singled out the Turk Ai Lushan who served them. Advisors singled him out, considering him harmless compared to other Chinese dignitaries. The mercenary concentrated enormous power and army in his hands, controlling 3 of the 10 border provinces of the empire. In 755, Ai Lushan rebelled and marched on the capital, under the pretext of overthrowing the courtiers who were hated by his soldiers. Many imperial officials went over to the side of the nomad army and were promised immunity. Soon Ai Lushan stopped hiding his true goals and declared himself emperor and founder of a new dynasty. During the crisis, the emperor abdicated the throne, and his heirs called on foreigners for help. In 757, the sleeping rebel leader was killed by his own eunuch, but Ai Lushan’s death was hidden for a long time. The rebellion was finally suppressed only in February 763. The number of victims turned out to be unimaginable for that time - at least 13 million people. According to official data, the number of taxpayers decreased by 36 million people. In this case, this reduced the entire human population by 15 percent. In this case, this conflict generally became the largest in history until the Second World War.
First World War (1914-1918). In his novel The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald, through the mouth of a character, called those events “the belated migration of the Teutonic tribes.” As soon as they didn’t call the First world war: great, European, war against war. But it went down in history thanks to the name invented by the Times columnist Colonel Charles Repington, and even then after 1939. And the foundations of the global conflict began to be laid at the end of the 19th century. Germany began to claim leading roles and acquired colonies. In the Middle East, the interests of all leading countries collided, striving to grab pieces of the collapsing Ottoman Empire. Multinational Austria-Hungary was also a hot boiler. The signal for the start of the war was the shooting in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, when the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand was killed. The truce came only on November 11, 1918. During that war, as many as four empires disappeared: German, Austria-Hungary, Russian and Ottoman. But the worst thing is the number of victims. About 10 million soldiers alone died, and another 12 million civilian victims lost their lives. Some sources also mention a figure of 65 million people. It also includes victims of the most massive influenza epidemic in history, the Spanish flu.
Conquests of Tamerlane (XIV century). Vereshchagin’s painting “The Apotheosis of War” eloquently testifies to those events. Initially, it was called “The Triumph of Tamerlane.” The fact is that the great conqueror loved to build pyramids from human skulls. This involved mass murder. The great conqueror was extremely cruel, suppressing any disobedience without mercy. During the 45 years of his campaigns, Timur or Tamerlane created an empire that rested on the blood of 15, or even 20 million people. At that time, 3.5 percent of the entire planet’s population became victims of Timur’s aggressive policies. At the same time, the Great Lame did not have any directed vectors for conquest. He visited Iran and Transcaucasia, the Golden Horde and the Ottoman Empire. The name of the conqueror is translated from Turkic as “iron”. Probably, his fortress allowed him to create his history and a great empire. By the end of his life, Tamerlane's state extended from Transcaucasia to Punjab in India. The commander intended to conquer China, but died at the beginning of the campaign.
Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864). Once again, China is staggering in the number of lives taken by its internal war. However, given the population of the country, this should not be surprising. And this uprising took place again during the existence of the Qing Empire. The country was then torn apart by the opium wars, the Xinhai revolution, the Yihetuan movement, and the Dungan uprising and the Taiping uprising were added to them. It turned out to be quite bloody. According to conservative estimates, about 20 million people became its victims. The most daring figures generally speak of one hundred million, or 8 percent of the entire population of the Earth at that time. The uprising began in 1850, it was essentially peasant war. Then the disenfranchised Chinese peasants rose up to fight the Manchu Qing dynasty. Initially, the rebels set the best goals: to overthrow foreign rulers, drive away foreign colonialists and create a kingdom of equality and freedom, Taiping heavenly kingdom. The word “Taiping” itself translates as “Great Calm”. And the uprising was led by Hong Xiuquan, who declared that he was neither more nor less than the younger brother of Jesus Christ himself. But it was not possible to live mercifully and resolve issues with kindness. The Taiping Kingdom with a population of 30 million people really appeared in South China. Its residents were nicknamed “hairy bandits” by other Chinese for their refusal to wear braids, which were forced on the residents by the Manchus. After the Taipings began to occupy big cities, the authorities gave them a decisive rebuff, and other countries also intervened in the struggle for power, and uprisings broke out in other parts of China. The uprising was completely suppressed only in 1864, not without help from the French and British.
Conquest of China by the Manchu dynasty (1616-1662). Once again, mass bloodshed in Chinese history is associated with the Qing Dynasty. This time we will talk about the time of her coming to power in the country. In 1616, the foundation of a future empire appeared on the territory of Manchuria, created by the local Aisin Gyoro clan. From northeast China, the new power spread its influence over the entire country, as well as Mongolia and part of Central Asia. The previous Ming Empire fell under the blows of the Great Pure State, Da Qing-Guo. But large-scale conquests cost the lives of 25 million people, one in twenty inhabitants of the planet at that time. But the empire existed for almost 300 years, being destroyed by the Xinhai Revolution of 1911-1912 and the abdication of the six-year-old Emperor Pu Yi. Surprisingly, he managed to return to power, leading the puppet country of Manchukuo, created in Manchuria by the Japanese occupiers and which existed until 1945 .
Wars of the Mongol Empire (XIII-XV centuries). The conquests of Genghis Khan and his successors created a state called by modern historians the Mongol Empire. The territory of this country was the largest in world history. The Mongols ruled the lands from the Sea of Japan to the Danube, from Novgorod to Southeast Asia. That country is spread over an impressive 24 million square kilometers, which even exceeded the area of the Soviet Union. But such global conquests were impossible without a huge number of victims of soldiers and civilians. It is believed that Mongol conquests cost humanity at least 30 million human lives. There are also cautious estimates of 60 million victims. Still, it is worth saying that this war lasted for a long time. The count can be taken from beginning of XIII century, when Khan Temujin united the hitherto warring tribes of nomads and created a united state. He took the name of Genghis Khan. And the era essentially ended in 1480 with the standing on the Ugra. Then the Moscow state of Grand Duke Ivan III was completely freed from the Mongol-Tatar yoke. Over two hundred years of great conquests, from 7.5 to 17 percent of all people living on the planet died from them.
World War II (1939-1945). This war set a record among all in terms of the number of victims and its destructiveness. According to the most conservative estimates, about 40 million people died, although according to some estimates, losses amounted to up to 72 million people. The material damage has nothing to compare with; it ranged from one and a half to two trillion dollars. And this war can truly be considered a World War. After all, 62 countries out of 73 that existed at that time participated in it in one form or another. 80 percent of the world's population was involved in World War II. Combat operations were carried out not only on land and at sea, but also actively in the sky, on three continents and in the waters of four oceans. World War II was the only conflict in which nuclear weapons were used.
The wars that Napoleon Bonaparte waged with various European countries from 1799 to 1815 are usually called the Napoleonic Wars. The gifted commander began redistributing the political map of Europe even earlier than he carried out the coup of the 18th Brumaire and became First Consul. Hanoverian Campaign, War of the Third Coalition or Russian-Austro-French War of 1805, War of the Fourth Coalition, or Russian-Prussian-French War of 1806-1807, which ended with the famous Peace of Tilsit, War of the Fifth Coalition, or Austro-French War of 1809, Patriotic War The War of 1812 and the War of the Sixth Coalition of European Powers against Napoleon and, finally, the Hundred Days Campaign, which ended with Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, claimed the lives of at least 3.5 million people. Many historians double this figure.
The Civil War was the result of the revolutionary crisis that struck Russia at the beginning of the 20th century, which began with the revolution of 1905-1907, aggravated during the World War and led to the fall of the monarchy, economic ruin, and a deep social, national, political and ideological split in Russian society. The apogee of this split was a fierce war throughout the country between armed forces Soviet power and anti-Bolshevik authorities.
During the Civil War, from hunger, disease, terror and battles, from 8 to 13 million people died (according to various sources), including about 1 million Red Army soldiers. Up to 2 million people emigrated from the country. The number of street children increased sharply after World War I and the Civil War. According to some data, in 1921 there were 4.5 million street children in Russia, according to others, in 1922 there were 7 million street children. Damage national economy amounted to about 50 billion gold rubles, industrial production fell to 4-20% of the 1913 level.
In 1862, the so-called Dungan uprising against the Qing Empire began in northwestern China. Chinese and non-Chinese Muslim national minorities - Dungans, Uighurs, Salars - rebelled, as Bolshaya writes. Soviet Encyclopedia, against the national oppression of the Chinese-Manchu feudal lords and the Qing dynasty. English-speaking historians do not entirely agree with this and see the origins of the uprising in racial and class antagonism and in economics, but not in religious strife and rebellion against the ruling dynasty. Be that as it may, the uprising, which began in May 1862 in Weinan County, Shaanxi Province, spread to the provinces of Gansu and Xinjiang. There was no single headquarters of the uprising, and in the war of all, according to various estimates, from 8 to 15 million people suffered. The uprising was brutally suppressed as a result, and the surviving rebels were sheltered Russian empire. Their descendants still live in Kyrgyzstan, Southern Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The era of the Tang Dynasty is traditionally considered in China to be the period of the highest power of the country, when China was far ahead of its contemporary countries. And the civil war at that time was a match for the country - grandiose. In world historiography it is called the Ai Lushan uprising. Thanks to the favor of Emperor Xuanzong and his beloved concubine Yang Guifei, a Turk (or Sogdian) in Chinese service, Ai Lushan concentrated enormous power in the army - under his command were 3 of the 10 border provinces of the Tang Empire. In 755, Ai Lushan rebelled and the following year proclaimed himself emperor of the new Yan dynasty. And although already in 757 the sleeping leader of the uprising was stabbed to death by his trusted eunuch, the rebellion was only pacified by February 763. The number of victims is staggering: at the very least, 13 million people died. And if you believe the pessimists and assume that the population of China at that time decreased by 36 million people, then you will have to admit that the rebellion of Ai Lushan reduced the then world population by more than 15 percent. In this case, if we count the number of victims, it was the largest armed conflict in the entire history of mankind until World War II.
Tamerlane (or Timur) is a Central Asian Turkic commander and conqueror who played a significant role in the history of Central, South and Western Asia, as well as the Caucasus, Volga region and Rus'. Commander, founder of the Timurid Empire (1370) with its capital in Samarkand.
Over the course of 45 years of conquest, Tamerlane killed no less than 3.5% of the population globe second half of the 14th century. The minimum is 15 million, or even 20!
The hero of Francis Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby called it "the belated migration of the Teutonic tribes." It was called the war against war, the Great War, the European War. The name with which it remained to live in history was coined by the Times military columnist Colonel Charles Repington: The First World War.
The starting shot of the world meat grinder was the shot in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. From that day until the armistice of November 11, 1918, by the most conservative measure, more than 10 million soldiers and about 12 million civilians died. If you come across the number 65 million, don’t be alarmed: it also includes all those who died from the Spanish flu, the most massive influenza pandemic in the history of mankind. In addition to the mass of victims, the result of World War I was the liquidation of four entire empires: Russian, Ottoman, German and Austria-Hungary.
The Taiping state occupied a significant part of southern China, with about 30 million people under its jurisdiction. The Taiping tried to carry out radical social reforms, replacing traditional Chinese religions with a specific “Christianity”, while Hong Xiuquan was considered the younger brother of Jesus Christ. The Taipings were called “long-haired” because they rejected the braids adopted by the Qing Manchus; they were also called hairy bandits.
The Taiping Rebellion sparked a series of local uprisings in other parts of the Qing Empire, which fought against Manchu authorities, often declaring their own states. Foreign countries also got involved in the war. The situation in the country has become catastrophic. The Taipings occupied large cities (Nanjing and Wuhan), rebels sympathetic to the Taipings occupied Shanghai, and campaigns were launched against Beijing and other parts of the country.
The Taipings were suppressed by the Qing army with the support of the British and French. The war resulted in a huge number of casualties - estimated at 20 to 30 million people. Mao Zedong viewed the Taiping as revolutionary heroes who rose up against the corrupt feudal system.
25 million victims, or almost 5% of the planet's inhabitants, is the price of creating an empire founded in 1616 by the Manchu clan of Aisin Gyoro on the territory of Manchuria, that is, what is now northeastern China. In less than three decades, all of China, part of Mongolia and a large piece of Central Asia came under her rule. The Chinese Ming Empire weakened and fell under the blows of the Great Pure State - Da Qing-kuo. What was won in blood lasted a long time: the Qing Empire was destroyed by the Xinhai Revolution of 1911-1912, the six-year-old Emperor Pu Yi abdicated the throne. However, he will still be destined to lead the country - the puppet state of Manchukuo, created by the Japanese occupiers on the territory of Manchuria and which existed until 1945.
The number of people who died during the formation, existence and collapse of the Mongol Empire will also not leave you indifferent: according to the most optimistic estimates, it is no less than 30 million. Pessimists number all 60 million. True, we are talking about a significant historical period - from the first years of the 13th century, when Temujin united the warring nomadic tribes into a single Mongolian state and received the title of Genghis Khan, and until the standing on the Ugra in 1480, when the Moscow state under Grand Duke Ivan III was completely freed from Mongol-Tatar yoke. During this time, from 7.5 to more than 17 percent of the world's population died.
The Second World War holds the most terrible records. It is also the bloodiest - the total number of its victims is cautiously estimated at 40 million, and carelessly at 72. It is also the most destructive: the total damage to all the warring countries exceeded the material losses from all previous wars combined and is considered equal to one and a half, or even two trillion dollars. This war is the most, so to speak, global war - 62 states out of 73 existing on the planet at that moment, or 80% of the Earth's population, participated in it in one form or another. The war was on the ground, in the skies and on the sea - fighting were conducted on three continents and in the waters of four oceans. This was the only conflict to date in which nuclear weapons were used.
Many civilizations have been born and died in world history, but this article discusses the most dangerous and prosperous ones and their ancient warriors. This is not the best side of humanity and history in particular. In those days this may have been the norm, but today it seems simply monstrous and unimaginable. Many civilizations from this rating you know, some films have been made about them, in which everything is exposed with the best side, but now you will find out how it really happened. So, from bad to worst in human history, the most brutal ancient warriors and civilizations of the world.
Sparta was quite different from other ancient Greek city-states. The word "Spartan" has come down to us to describe self-denial and simplicity. Spartan life was war. The children were more children of the state than of their parents. They were born soldiers, statesmen, strong and disciplined.
Despite their noble portrayal of the Spartans in the movie 300, they were a very cruel people. To put it into perspective: every Spartan man was a soldier. All other work was done by slaves; The Spartans were warriors and that's it. All their lives they fought to the point of physical exhaustion and finally retired at the age of 60. Death consigned the Spartan to oblivion. The only Spartans who were commemorated with tombstones were those who died in battle while winning. They and only they had to have graves in order to amaze future generations with heroism. The one who lost the shield was executed. According to Spartan logic, the warrior must return it or die trying.
Maori were the original inhabitants of New Zealand. They created a reputation for themselves "for themselves" by essentially eating everyone uninvited guests up to the 18th century. Maori believed that by devouring the flesh of their enemies, they became stronger, absorbing their best qualities.
They practiced cannibalism during the war. In October 1809, a European ship carrying convicts was attacked by a large group of cannibal warriors in retaliation for the ill-treatment of the chief's son. Maori killed most of the 66 people on board. They sent the victims - both dead and alive - in boats back to the shore to be devoured. The few "lucky" survivors who were able to take cover were horrified to see the Maori devouring their comrades all night.
The Vikings were North Germanic sea people who raided, traded, and settled, exploring, across large areas of Europe and Asia, as well as the North Atlantic islands, from the late 8th to mid-11th centuries. Notorious for terror and looting across Europe.
They were ferocious ancient warriors who never shied away from a fight. Their physical strength reinforced by military skills, as well as the use various types weapons such as axes, swords and spears. Perhaps their religion can be called military. The Vikings firmly believed that all people have a purpose in this life, and they fought to the death. This was their goal. Each of them was a soldier and fully proved this on the battlefield, destroying everything in their path.
Known for their fearlessness in battle, the Apaches were like America's ninjas. They were not like the Native Americans themselves. With amazingly cunning skills, they were quite adept at using primitive weapons made of bone and stone. The Apaches could sneak up behind you and before you knew it, your throat had been cut. These were the greatest knife fighters the world has seen; They were pretty good with a tomahawk, and they were great at throwing axes. They terrorized the southwestern United States, and even the military had problems with them, scalping their victims. As fighters, the Apaches had great success. Today, their descendants teach special forces hand-to-hand combat.
The Roman Empire included almost everything that can now be considered Western Europe. The empire dictated the way of life in the conquered countries. The main countries were conquered England/Wales (then known as Britain), Spain (Hispania), France (Gaul), Greece (Achaia), the Middle East - Judea and coastal North Africa. Yes, Rome was greatest empire, but it is impossible to deny the horrors of this empire. Criminals, slaves, ancient warriors and others were forced to fight each other to the death in gladiatorial games. Everyone knows the greatest villains of Rome - Nero and Caligula. In 64 AD, the early Christians were the subject of terrible persecution. Some were torn to pieces by dogs, others burned alive like human torches. Before becoming an empire, Rome was a republic. The emergence of Rome is supposedly legendary and is associated with the she-wolf who suckled Rom and Remulus. Combined with an excellent military and administrative system, the Roman Empire is one of the longest lasting. Ancient Rome lasted a whopping 2,214 years!
Mongol Empire existed in the 13th and 14th centuries AD and was the largest land farm in human history. The Mongol Empire emerged from the unification of the Mongol and Turkic tribes under the leadership of Genghis Khan. The Mongols were considered barbarians and savages. Throughout Europe and Asia they became famous for horse riding and archery. They were highly disciplined. They used a composite bow and wielded spears and sabers. They were masters of psychological warfare and built the second largest empire (after the British). It all started with the fact that Genghis Khan vowed in his youth to take over the whole world. He almost did it. He then set his sights on China and the rest is history. During the invasion of India, they built a pyramid in front of the walls of Delhi from human heads. They, like the Celts, had a clause about severed heads. The Mongols loved to collect them and catapult them into the enemy camp. They did the same with plague corpses. When the Mongols came across pregnant women, they did... things we won't discuss here.
Communism is responsible for millions of deaths. Stalin killed 10-60 million people. The Soviet Union was probably one of the greatest enemies of the United States. The ideology of general fear.
The Celts lived in lands from the British Isles to Galatia. The Celts came into contact with the cultures of multiple neighbors, and yet there is no written mention of them. The Celts had a reputation as headhunters. Many Celts fought completely naked and were famous for their long swords. They cut off the heads of killed enemies and attached them to the necks of their horses. The Celts gave the bloody trophies to the servants and sang hymns. They embalmed the heads of their most prominent enemies and kept them to be proud of. Like, instead of a bag of gold, we got absolute victory and the head of the enemy. They are the third among the most brutal ancient warriors and civilizations of the world.
The Aztecs were ethnic group Mexico, who spoke the Nahuatl language (14th-16th centuries). They had a complex theocracy. The Aztecs made human sacrifices. Cannibalism was also encouraged. 20,000 people were killed a year to “make the gods happy.” The hearts of the victims were cut out and ceremonially eaten. Some were drowned, beheaded, burned or thrown from a height. And that's not the worst part. According to the rituals of the “rain god”, children were killed in different places so that their tears can make it rain. During a sacrifice to the “god of fire,” a couple of newlyweds were thrown into the fire. In the “corn goddess” ritual, virgins danced for 24 hours, then they were killed and skinned. Aztec priests then carried this skin with them. And at the coronation, Ahuizotl, one account says, killed 80,000 people to please his idols.
The most violent civilization in history. Nazi Germany (Third Reich) refers to Germany in the era when the country turned into totalitarian state, being under the rule of Adolf Hitler as leader of the German National Socialist Workers' Party until its destruction by Allied forces in May 1945. Despite its short duration, this civilization greatly influenced the world. Nazi Germany started the worst war in human history - World War II. At least 4 million people were killed during the Holocaust. The Nazi swastika is perhaps the most hated symbol in the world. Nazi Germany owned about 268,829 square miles of land. Hitler was one of the most powerful people in the history of the world, and his empire was certainly the most terrible.
In the history of civilization, military conflicts have always occurred. And each protracted conflict differed in its duration. We bring to your attention the top 10 longest wars in human history.
The well-known military conflict between the United States and Vietnam lasted eighteen years (1957-1975). In the history of America, some facts of these events are still silent. In Vietnam, this war is considered not only a tragic, but also a heroic period.
The immediate cause of serious clashes was the rise of communists to power in the Middle Kingdom and South Vietnam. Accordingly, the US President no longer wanted to put up with the potential for a communist “domino effect.” Therefore, the White House decided to use military force.
American combat units outgunned the Vietnamese. But the national army brilliantly used guerrilla methods in the fight against the enemy.
As a result, the war ended with a mutually beneficial agreement between the states.
Perhaps the longest war in Russian history is the Northern War. In 1700, Russia collided with one of the most powerful powers of that era - Sweden. The first military failures of Peter I became the impetus for the start of serious reforms. As a result, by 1703, the Russian autocrat had already won a number of victories, after which the entire Neva was in his hands. That is why the Tsar decided to found a new capital there - St. Petersburg.
A little later, the Russian army conquered Dorpat and Narva.
Meanwhile, the Swedish emperor demanded revenge, and in 1708 his units again invaded Russia. This was the beginning of the decline of this northern power.
First, Russian soldiers defeated the Swedes near Lesnaya. And then - near Poltava, in the decisive battle.
Defeat in this battle put an end not only to the ambitious plans of Charles XII, but also to the prospects of the Swedish “great power”.
A few years later the new one sued for peace. The corresponding agreement was concluded in 1721, and it became disastrous for the state. Sweden has practically ceased to be considered a great power. In addition, she lost almost all of her possessions.
This war lasted twenty-seven years. And such ancient states-policies as Sparta and Athens were involved in it. The conflict itself did not begin spontaneously. Sparta had an oligarchic form of government, Athens - democracy. There was also a kind of cultural confrontation. Overall, these two strong leaders could not help but meet on the battlefield.
The Athenians carried out sea raids on the shores of the Peloponnese. The Spartans invaded the territory of Attica.
After some time, both warring parties entered into a peace treaty, but a few years later Athens violated the terms. And hostilities began again.
In general, the Athenians lost. So, they were defeated near Syracuse. Then, with the support of Persia, Sparta managed to build its own fleet. This flotilla finally defeated the enemy at Aegospotami.
The main result of the war was the loss of all Athenian colonies. In addition, the policy itself was forced to join the Spartan Union.
Over the course of three decades (1618-1648), literally all European powers took part in religious clashes. It all started with a conflict between German Protestants and Catholics, after which this local incident turned into a large-scale war in Europe. Note that Russia was also involved in this conflict. Only Switzerland remained neutral.
During the years of this merciless war, the number of inhabitants of Germany decreased by several orders of magnitude!
By the end of the clashes, the warring parties concluded a peace treaty. The consequence of this document was the formation of an independent state - the Netherlands.
In medieval England in the second half of the 15th century there was active military action. Contemporaries called them the War of the Scarlet and White Roses. In essence, it was a series of civil wars that, in total, lasted 33 years. It was a confrontation between factions of the aristocracy for power. The main participants in the conflict were representatives of the Lancastrian and York branches.
Years later, after numerous battles in the war, the Lancastrians won. But after some time, a representative of the Tudor dynasty ascended the throne. This royal family ruled for almost 120 years.
The Guatemalan conflict lasted thirty-six years (1960-1996). It was a civil war. The opposing sides are representatives of Indian tribes, primarily the Mayans, and the Spaniards.
The fact is that in Guatemala in the 50s, with the support of the United States, a coup was carried out. Members of the opposition began to form a rebel army. Liberation movement was expanding. The partisans repeatedly managed to occupy cities and villages. As a rule, governing bodies were created immediately.
Meanwhile, the war dragged on. The Guatemalan authorities admitted that a military solution to this conflict is impossible. The result was a peace that was the official protection of the 23 Indian groups in the country.
In total, about 200 thousand people died during the war, most of whom were Mayans. Approximately another 150 thousand are considered missing.
The war between the Persians and Greeks lasted for half a century (499-449 BC). By the beginning of the conflict, Persia was considered a powerful and warlike power. Greece or Hellas as such on the map Ancient world didn't exist at all. There were only disconnected policies (city-states). They seemed unable to resist the great Persia.
Be that as it may, suddenly the Persians began to suffer crushing defeats. Moreover, the Greeks were able to agree on joint military action.
At the end of the war, Persia was forced to recognize the independence of the Greek city-states. In addition, she had to give up the captured territories.
And Hellas was in for an unprecedented rise. The country then began to enter a period of greatest prosperity. She was already laying the foundations of culture, which the whole world later began to follow.
What is the longest war in history? You will learn about this further. But the record holder included the century-long conflict between England and France. In fact, it lasted more than one century - 116 years. The fact is that both sides were forced to agree to a truce in this long battle. The cause was a plague epidemic.
At that time, both states were regional leaders. They had powerful armies and serious allies.
Initially, England began to conduct military operations. The island kingdom sought to regain, first of all, Anjou, Maine and Normandy. The French side was eager to expel the British from Aquitaine. Thus, she tried to unite all her territories.
The French formed their own militia. The British used mercenary soldiers for military operations.
In 1431, the legendary Joan of Arc, who was a symbol of the freedom of France, was executed. After this, the militia began to primarily use guerrilla methods in the fight. As a result, years later, England, exhausted by the war, admitted defeat, having lost almost all possessions on French territory.
At the very beginning of the history of Roman civilization, Rome managed to practically subjugate all of Italy. By this time, the Romans wanted to extend their influence to the territory of the rich island of Sicily. The powerful trading power Carthage also pursued these interests. The inhabitants of ancient Rome called the Carthaginians Punes. As a result, hostilities began between these countries.
One of the longest wars in the world lasted 118 years. True, active hostilities lasted four decades. The rest of the time the war went on in a kind of sluggish phase.
Ultimately, Carthage was defeated and destroyed. Note that during all the years of the war, about a million people died, which was a lot for those times...
The obvious record holder for duration was the war between the Scilly Archipelago and the Netherlands. How long did the longest war in history last? It lasted more than three centuries and was very different from other military conflicts. At least because in all 335 years the opponents have not been able to shoot at each other.
In the first half of the 17th century, the Second Civil War was going on in England. Famous defeated the royalists. Fleeing from pursuit, the losers arrived on the shores of the Scilly Archipelago, which belonged to a prominent royalist.
Meanwhile, part of the Dutch fleet decided to support Cromwell. They hoped for an easy victory, but this did not happen. After the defeat, the Dutch authorities demanded compensation. The royalists responded with a categorical refusal. Then, at the end of March 1651, the Dutch officially declared war on Scilly, after which... they returned home.
A little later, the royalists were persuaded to surrender. But this strange “war” officially continued. It ended only in 1985, when it was discovered that formally Scilly was still at war with Holland. The following year, this misunderstanding was resolved, and the two countries were able to sign a peace treaty...
