So what happened?

China over-through the emperor and had a severe famine and an ugly civil war. Prior to WWII the pro democracy faction was winning the Chinese civil war. They had driven the Communist into the western farmlands and out of the cities. Then Japan attacked and invaded the territory held by the pro democracy Chinese. As a result the communists took control of the country after the war.

Japan had underwent two big social changes. One the Emperor had grown in power and was even worshiped as a God. Two an anti western Japan for Japan movement. A good example of this is: In movie theaters they would show a foolish Japanese man that embraced western ideas. He would do western things and be rebuked by a smart athletic Japanese man.

Japan would no longer sit back and allow western powers to control Asia. Many European powers were weakened by the first world war. The U.S. and many nations were suffering from the great depression. Asia was ready for the taking. Japan sought to create a great Asian empire. They took Korea, part of Russia, most of China, and south east Asia. They also went deep into the pacific. They took the Philippines and other islands. In these places they committed horrible acts they raped women and killed children in brutal manner to impose fear in the population.

The war in the Pacific started years before America entered the war. But after America became involved things changed. The war with America began good for Japan. The attack on pearl harbor had crippled the U.S. Pacific fleet. They won most of the early battles. Then two things changed the war greatly. The first was the battle of midway it was the the first decisive Naval victory for the U.S. and a turning point. The Second was the Doolittle air raid on Tokyo. It is believed that more people died from the fires caused by the raid than at either of the atomic bomb drops. It was the time that Japan had been hit hard in Japan. As the war in Europe ended the U.S. put of more its might against Japan.

But Japan would not go down without a fight. on islands like Iwo jima the Japanese fought like dragons often to the last man. And Russia was now about to enter the war. The U.S. did not want Russia to take part of Japan like it did Germany. These are the two main reasons that the U.S. decided to drop the bomb.

The Japanese were getting arming women and children for a fight to the death against America. As military planners prepared for the invasion of Japan it became clear that the casualties would be far greater than those of D day and the European invasion. During the War the U.S. had changed presidents due to the death of F.D.R. Truman did not even know of the bomb before he was president. It was projected casualties and the Soviets entering Japan that he made the decision to drop the bomb.

Some say they had to. Others say it could have been avoided. But one thing is for sure the world would never be the same Hiroshima was destroyed with a Uranium bomb. But Japan still would not surrender so the U.S. dropped a second Larger Plutonium bomb on the city of Nagasaki. Japan realized that it was not just facing invasion. It was facing complete destruction. The world was shocked at the destructive power of this new weapon. It was so horrible that no nation since has used it in battle. It would change Japan forever

Within days for the first time ever the Emperor spoke to the Japanese people (that were ready to fight to the death) he informed them that Japan had surrendered to the Americans. For the Japanese people this was end of the world. They had believed the Emperor to be a God.  Now the first time they here his voice as he declares the surrender of their great nation.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. Iwo Jima
3. Manhattan Project
4. BBC
5. Eye Witness
6. National Geographic

It all began in the Arabian desert. A poor orphan boy grew to be one of the great religious leaders in human history. A tale of a nobody that though the grace of God became one of histories most important figures.

In the year 610 AD Mohammad received his first revelation. In a cave outside the city of Mecca it is said that the angel Gabriell spoke to him. He was called to be a prophet soon after he began preaching and had a small group of followers. But the ruling tribe of Mecca did not like his message of one true God. They were making a lot of money from the Idol worship in the city. As a result his followers were driven from the city to what would become Medina the 2nd Islamic holy city. He He continued receiving revelation there. Then Mohammad and his followers raised an army and took the city of Mecca. They spared the lives of the Innocent and those they captured.

The Qur’an however is not a story nor is it in chronological order. Rather it is instruction from God for mankind as reviled by Muhammad. The book was not written by Muhammad. Why? He was illiterate so his followers wrote down his revelations from their memories. As a result many have criticized the book as altered or incomplete. But even if it is altered it language is beautiful and poetic. one of the greatest literary accomplishments in any age. It tells many of the same stories as the Christian and Jewish scriptures. Mohammad said it was a continuation of Gods previous messages. It was compiled years after the death of Mohammad and soon spread.

The Islamic conquest brought the Qur’an to Africa Persia, and India. It the Mongol invasion helped it spread east to china. Arab traders brought it to Indonesia and Malaysia. In modern times it Muslim immigrants have brought it with them to Europe America and Australia.

In the twentieth century the followers of the Qur’an have faced a crises. Mainly cruel dictators and fanatics have sought to twist the Qur’an to fit their political goals. Many are offended by what they see as the west imposing corrupt values though the media. As a result many have turned to the Qur’an for answers some have found peace and harmony. Others have found anger and hate. Like the Bible the Qur’an is often seen though the eyes of those who read it. But one thing is for sure its impact on history has like a ripple in a pond will grown and expanded outward.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. PBS
3. History Channel
4. BBC
5. Quran.org

When we think of Vikings we think of a bearded warrior with an ax and a horned helmet. Some of this is true. Vikings were known for there skill with the ax and often because of the cold climate did have beards. But the horned helmets are a product of fiction. No one has ever found a Viking helmet with horns.

They were a pagan people that some of there God names like Thor made it to our calender. Thor’s day became Thursday. The Europeans to the south were mostly Christian. The Vikings were notorious for raiding monasteries for gold and silver. They were fierce and did not care about holy relics. The weapon that set them apart was their ships. The Viking long boats had a shallow bottom that aloud them to travel rivers deep into southern Europe.

But they were more than fierce raiders they had families and unique culture. They were farmers and merchants. These people were not ruled by one king they were a confederation of tribes. Many of them practiced democracy while Europe was ruled buy kings and futile lords. In there graves have been found artifacts from China and the middle east, showing how far their trading network reached. They had settlements in Russia and even North America. The crossed the Atlantic centuries before Columbus. Often times they would settle in the areas they raided the British islands are a good example of this many English Irish and Scottish people are descendants of Vikings.

So what happened to them. It became colder and so colonies like Greenland Vine-land (North America) became less attended to. Also as the settled and invaded parts of Europe they mixed with local populations. But more than anything they were converted and became Christian. As Christians their life style changed in many ways.

The Vikings are personal subject to me. Many of my ancestors were Vikings. Like many people in central Utah a lot of my ancestors were Mormon converts from Scandinavia. So this is subject that interest’s me greatly. My sister once commented that my wild uncles look and act like Vikings
I grew up in central Utah many people have Scandinavian names like Sorensen,and Jensen. As I have studied Vikings I have become amazed at how many things from their culture have survived in part in my home of Sevier county. The potato our potato pits are a hole often dug into a hill supported buy thick timbers with straw stuffed between them. Old farmers used them to store potatoes and equipment during the cold winters. most of them have now caved it but a few remain. I always thought that the pioneers got the idea from Indian pit houses. But then I saw in books and on TV old Viking long houses. They were almost identical. It did not take long for me to connect the dots. The Pioneers came from Scandinavia and settled Central Utah. These potato pits were a direct link to our Viking past.

Today we name football teams after them. We see them in video games and movies. The truth is many of us are them. If I want to know what a Viking looked like all I need to do is look in the mirror.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. PBS
3. North Atlantic
4. BBC
5. History Channel

As I have stated before, he may not have have been the first to discover America. However he was the first of what would would be lasting European colonization in the America’s.

It really began with the Mongol conquest they opened trade between the east and the west. Europeans wanted another way to get eastern goods. Columbus was an expert sailor and believed that by sailing west he could find a more direct wrought to Asia. He convinced the King and Queen of Spain to fund an expedition. They gave him what would become three famous ships the Nina Pin-ta and Santa Maria. In his journal he remarks about how he felt it was his calling. He believed the Holy Spirit was guiding him. He was view by many as a dreamer.

He set sail for Asia across the Atlantic ocean. After weeks at sea the arrived at what they thought was the East Indies (Indonesia). But it was soon apparent he was somewhere else. He had landed in the Caribbean on a small island. He would return to Spain and the world would never be the same. Soon American crops like corn, potatoes, chocolate, and tobacco would be in Europe.

The European powers began to colonize the America’s. In doing so they killed millions of people and destroyed great civilizations. The Modern world really began when Columbus landed in 1492. Many explorers came after him. But it was his vision that began the modern world. Some have said he was a monster. I guess that depends on your point of view. But his impact on history place him as one of the influential people to ever live. Now in his honor we celebrate holidays name cities streets and schools after him. We build statues of him and make movies about him. A lot of misinformation about him has been taught as fact. His is a legacy of drive and determination.

Sources

1. wikipedia
2. Voyages
3. Journal of Columbus
4. Eye witness history

Millions of people pattern their lives after his teachings. In cities all over Asia giant statues can be found of him. Yet much about him and his life is unknown. It was almost two centuries after his death that his teachings began to be written down. Much of the history we have of him is mixed with legend. He is the Buddha.

Siddhartha Gautama or the Buddha lived from about 563 BCE to 483 BCE. in what is today Nepal. Legend says his father was a King, and he grew up in isolation from all worldly cares. He was protected by his father from all suffering. Then one day he saw an old man he had never seen an old person before. This shocked him he began to question things. He then saw a sick person, a dead body and then saw ascetic holy man who was hungry. He decided to leave the palace his wife and family and find answers as to why suffering occurs.

He became an ascetic wanderer but was unfulfilled. Then one day he sat and began to meditate under a Bod-hi tree. He did this for some time. He confronted his inner demon’s and discovered enlightenment. He then spreed his wisdom around India. His was a message of moderation, the middle path. He taught self discipline and rejected extremism in all its forms.

After his his followers spreed his message into east Asia as far as Japan and Indonesia. It spreed west to Afghanistan. Monasteries and Monks devote their lives to his teachings. His message is growing in popularity in the west as well.

So who was he? A spiritual teacher? A prophet? A God? Or a misguided man. That depends on your point of view. But to millions of people he is the ultimate teacher of knowledge. As a result he has a huge impact on our world. And as our world grows small because of modern technology and the western and eastern worlds become one his impact will grow. Many of his teachings are universal and beneficial. Some of his teachings like reincarnation are hard for many westerners to accept. However we should regardless of our opinion respect his impact on human history. Only Jesus and Mohamed have had the kind of impact on history that he has.

Sources

1. Berkeley
2. Exotic India
3. Religious Tolerance
4. Shippensburg University
   

The Palestinian Israel conflict is an example of people letting pride and anger control them. On both sides. We see on the news suicide bombers and mothers happy about the death of their children.

It began with WWI like many of the last century’s conflicts. After the war the middle east map was redrawn. England controlled the Levant (known today as Palestine). They made law encouraging Jewish immigration. then came WWII and the Holocaust. Millions of Jews were slain by the Nazi’s. The world was shocked. The new U.N. created a new homeland for the Jews the same place as ancient Israel.

But people already lived their. This caused a conflict. The Arab nations around sought to drive the Jews into the sea. But they failed badly. Over the next 50 years this theme would repeat. Arab nations would attack and Israel would win convincingly. The most famous of these conflicts is the 6 days war. Israel took part of Syria Egypt and Jordain. They took Jerusalem and celebrated. The U.N. took the land Israel had captured and gave it to the Palestinians for a homeland. But many Israeli’s would not leave. And many Palestinians want Israel destroyed.

Israel has made peace with some of its neighbors Egypt and Jordain, but is not on good terms with other Arab nations. Both sides have a reasons for the land. but it will take either compromise or all out victory of one side to settle this dispute.

This small land is the center of our current world conflict. It is full of history. Important to many religions like: Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the Baha’i faith. It could be the source of much more violence if history keeps repeating itself.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. Brief History
3. Fordham
4. Map History

The Mongols were the largest land mass empire the world has known. They changed the world they opened trade routs. They like the Huns centuries before them road on horseback and terrorized all they encountered as they headed west. They united peoples and founded an amazing empire. In their path millions were slain and societies were destroyed. They brought the Chinese Koreans Arabs Persians and others to their knees.

It started with one man known as Genghis Khan. He was one of the most talented and successful leaders in history. But he was also one of the bloodiest. He like many great leaders had to overcome great tragedy. He was brilliant on the battlefield. But at the age of age of 60 he died stories say it was a freak riding accident. A ironic ending for a man that commanded an empire of great horseman.

After his death his Empire was divided among his sons. it slowly fell apart but grew in some size. But another rose up in what is now Afghanistan. His name was Timor he was a cruel relentless genies. He invaded India but when the Indian people rebelled he would cut off their heads and place them in piles by the thousands. But he would spare the workers artists and engineers to help build his empire. He was a megalomaniac that had 50 foot doorways and lush garden cities built for his honer. He sought through brute force to create an empire even greater than that of Genghis Khan. He brought the Ottoman Turks to there knees and went like Khan to invade China but like the Khan died on his way to China.

The Mongols however faded into history their empire was to large to control. But their impact on our world is immeasurable. They opened China to the west and inspired the age of discovery in both the east and west. They brought down the Gin in China the Ottomans in Turkey and what was left of Persia. They greatly impeded and then assimilated into Muslim society. We will never see another empire like them.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. Columbia
3. Macro History
4. History World

Viking settlements and artifacts have been found in parts of Canada and New England. Also Chinese ship wrecks and artifacts have been found in north and south America. In fact artifacts from Ancient Egypt, Phoenicia, Rome, and Palestine have been found in America. We have found Cocaine in Egyptian mummies. Cocaine is native to the Americas. Also many other plants and animals have been found where they should not be. Many however in academia have ignored this evidence. There are two main reasons for this:
1. Many supposed discoveries have been Hoaxes
2. A prevailing notion that Columbus was the first. Anything else would be at odds with their concept of history. AKA change is bad.

Lets think about it. Was there any great changes from the ancient times to the day of Columbus? No not really. In fact many have crossed the ocean in modern times using ancient sailing boats and ancient technology. I think we often view ancient people as stupid. The truth is many ancient civilizations had a higher level of technology than Columbus. In fact maps with the America’s that appear to be made prior to Columbus have been found.

How does it change our lives? It gives us a greater appreciation for Ancient peoples. Americans are from all over. We have ancestors from every part of the globe. It seem more fitting. But The Europeans were the first people(except for the native Americans) to make lasting settlements. I am sure as time goes on we will see even more evidence of ancient voyages to the America’s.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. Maxwell Institute
3. Evidence
4. Live Science

How much was it like the real Korean War? I am a member of the military and can say that a lot of what is in the show in bull. But a lot of the way that the characters interacted with each other is a lot like military life. The closeness you feel for those around you is amazing.

The Korean War was the first major conflict of the Cold War. It lasted almost 3 years. Many good men and women died in that war. It was also the first major U.N. operation. It became known as America’s forgotten war. In between WWII and Vietnam it gets overlooked at times. But it’s lasting impact is still felt today. After the war Korea remained two nations North and South. In the democratic south industry and education make it one of the leading nations. The North under years of communism does not even have energy to light many it’s cities at night. The average north Korean child is much smaller than a south Korean child due to malnutrition. Many have said that it accomplished nothing. but to millions of south Koreans it meant being free of communism.

The show makes me laugh but it also reminds me of the great sacrifice made for us there. The show may not be the most accurate portrayal of the Korean War but it does make you think.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. 4077th home page
3. BBC
4. CNN

When the man lived and exactly who he was is debated. Some put him around the time of Abraham some around Moses others say later. Like many ancient religious leaders his teachings may have been altered over time. But his impact on the three major great Monotheistic religions of Islam Judaism and Christianity are profound. His followers would become the leaders of the Persian Empire which dominated west Asia for over 1000 years.

He taught the radical idea of one God. He also taught about an evil dark one, a devil. He taught about angles heaven and hell and the end of the world. His followers did not however spread his message around the world like others. They mostly lived in central and west Asia. It was his followers that freed the Jews from the Babylonians. It was his followers that were called Magi.

However his religion was almost destroyed by the expanse of Islam. Persians were conquered and converted to Islam. However some of his followers remain today. Known as Zoroastrians they are a small religion a few hundred thousand. And many of his teachings became part of Islam Christianity and Judaism. Today in Iran many Zoroastrian holidays are still celebrated much to the chagrin of the Mullahs. Perhaps as time goes on his impact will grow even larger.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. Zoroastrian philosophy
3. Belief Net
4. Thus Spake Zarathustra 

What do the French Revolution, the decline of the Vikings, The Renaissance, The Black Death, and the fall of the Spanish Empire all have in common? They were all products of The little Ice Age. A 500 year period of history in which the climate cooled greatly as is shown in the graft to the side.

This effected agriculture and the order of society around the globe. The cold changed the crops in Europe. People could no longer grow grapes in Germany and England like they did before. The potato became popular in Europe because it grew under ground and could handle cold better. As agriculture suffered traders and merchants sought foreign land. This launched the age of discovery.

Napoleon was defeated by this Little Ice Age. his massive army of 500,000 starved and froze to death in Russia during one of the worst winters ever. The American revolution survived due to the effects of the little ice age. The Spanish Armada was destroyed by horrible September weather.

To sum it the popularity of beer and potatoes are a result of this change. As is the Protestant Reformation and the age of exploration and Renaissance। Our lives today are greatly effected because of the effect of The Little Ice Age on the people of the time.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. Geo-science research
3. National Geographic
4. BBC

Imagine what would happen to our society if half the people were killed by disease. how would we deal with it? What if it was a family member that died? What if we lost 2/3 of the people? We would have to change our society in many ways for it to survive.

This is what happened in Europe in the late 1340′s. It is estimated that 75 million people world wide were wiped out, 20 million in Europe alone. It began in the east although where it began is not sure, but it spread west like wide fire. It was a painful death often leaving the victims covered in boils. This plague killed about 55 million people outside of Europe. But it effected European society more than others, because of its structure. Many thought it was the end of the world. Some blamed the Pagans and Jews for bringing Gods wrath upon the world. This created a period of intense anti Semitic persecution. The Spanish Inquisition is a product of this belief that Heretics and Jews were to blame for the plague.

As it spread into Europe it radically changed society. The people hit the hardest were those that lived in cities. Nobles and merchant’s were hit very hard. Suddenly there was a shortage of workers. As a result the old class system and serfdom became obsolete. It was the poor people living on farms away from the towns that were hardly hit. Now they were needed like never before. The demand for their services gave them a great increase in power. Now the common man mattered and had far more control over his destiny.

In England the Plague killed many of the French speaking upper class. Mostly the poor lower class spoke English. But now they were important. English became the language of commerce and government again in England. Also at this time many started to want more rights. Within a century the monarchs and nobility of Europe started to give the common man more power in government. This lead to Democratic Monarchies. It also lead to a new way of thinking that ushered in the Renaissance.

Had the black death not occurred western history would be very different. Would Da Vinci and the great artists of the Renaissance created their masterpieces? Would Mozart and the great composers achieve what they did? Would the Protestant Reformation have occurred? Would Columbus have found America? Would the American revolution have happened? Probably not, at least not the way it did. The rise of modern western civilization could not have occurred had it not been for the dramatic social restructuring brought about by the Black Death.

Many of our common traditions came from the black death। Blessing someone when they sneeze. The children’s chant Ring Around the Rosie. Ashes ashes we all fall down was describing the death of the plague. A pocket full of Posies was believed to ward off the plague. Every time we speak our minds, or listen to modern music, or even read the Bible we are living with the results of the black death.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2.  Flea
3. Eye Witness 
4. BBC

In the 4th and 5th century AD the Huns Exploded on the world Scene. To Europeans they seemed to come from nowhere. An army of horseback riding warriors that were unlike any the world had seen before. They brought the Eastern and Western Romain Empires to their knees. Scholars vary in opinion about where they came from. Most agree they came from Central Asia ,but exactly where is disputed. They were nomads horsemen they did not farm or leave much in the way of ruins, artifacts or written record. Almost all we know about them comes from other peoples.

From these accounts we learn that they were skilled archers and excellent horseman. It was said they would eat and sleep on their horses. They seemed like many people that arose from the steps of Asia a blend of different races and ethnicity’s. It is believed by some that they came from China and Mongolia. As they came they drove tribes west the Goths came to Europe fleeing the Huns

Their Famous leader Attila united the tribes and created a large empire that took in much of Europe. He almost took Rome itself. But then something happened. The Pope of Rome rode out to meet Attila and brought with him a large amount of gold. He convinced Attila to spare Rome. This was really the beginning of the Pope being a political figure. It also helped Establish the office of Pope as the most powerful in Europe.

After the sudden and Mysterious death of Attila his sons ruled. But the Empire crumbled as his sons lost battles and the Huns became more “civilised”. They left the nomadic life style and began to farm and enjoy their new empire. And in so doing they gave up the advantages they had over other peoples.

It is believed that the Huns were in large part responsible for the eventual fall of western Rome. But Eastern Rome carried on for centuries after the Huns. The Huns sudden collapse did however create a sudden power vacuum and instability in Europe. The collapse of the Huns is seen by many as the beginning of the Dark Ages.

Had the Huns not poured into Europe would things be the same? We probably would not have a Germany or the Germain language which had a huge impact on English। Would Rome have survived? Would the mid evil church had risen up to become so dominant? Would the office of Pope mean what it does today? The Huns set the stage for the Dark Ages.Dark Ages.

Sources

1. Wikipedia
2. All Empires
3. Royalty
4. History Channel

The Khmer Rouge was Cambodia’s version of Communism. The country had suffered much (like many surrounding countries) during the Vietnam War. When the Khmer Rouge came to Phenom Pen as revolutionaries from the jungles, they were greeted as heroes by most of the people. Soon though things changed. First they rounded up all the intellectuals that and took them off to the country side. Next religious leaders and the rich. Then the general population was forced to abandon the cities and labor on farms. Their leader Paul Pot outlawed religion and money. His regime then began rounding up people at random and taking them to reeducation camps. there they were chained to the floors and beaten, not allowed to move unless given permission. The rooms stank with human waist. They were accused of bizarre impossible crimes like: Working for the CIA, KGB, and the Vietnamese all at once. If they did not confess they suffered. If they did they were taken to a field shot and buried in mass graves.

We know about this from the survivors and from the records kept by the Khmer Rouge themselves. They documented methodically much of what they did. And when the Vietnamese invaded in 1979 there was no time to destroy the documents. When all was said and done 1-2 million were dead about 20% of the population.

What can we learn from all this? First beware of extreme ideologies. most of histories genocides are committed for the supposed good of the society. Second we learn how important it is for the people to stand up to tyranny of every kind. The people greatly outnumbered the army yet the people were slaughtered like cattle. People throughout the earth need to look at there governments as servants and not as masters. When evil is done is it better that a few men lose there lives in rebellion than a whole nation perish? Of course we must use wisdom we must avoid violence and seek change though peaceful means. Will we learn from the genocides of the past? Or will we keep repeating the same course? I included a video after this article. It does a god job showing briefly what happened

Sources

1. Genocides
2. University of Minnesota
3. Cambodia 
4. Slide show 

The last 90 years of world history have been some of the bloodiest in human history. Empires have risen and crumbled. Science and technology have exploded making the world in many ways smaller. The three largest conflicts of the last century and many smaller ones have there root in one conflict World War I, also known as the great war.
When the war began Men dressed in Napoleon era uniforms, marched in formation in battle and charged on horse back. When it began the world was dominated by monarchs and empires. When it began Europe was filled with brave men who put king and country above their own lives. When it began America was a often isolated and not involved in world affairs.
Contrast that to the end of the war. When it ended Soldiers dressed in modern uniforms similar to our own, flew in air planes and charged in tanks. When it ended empires fell and new forms of government rose. When it ended Europe had its best and bravest laying dead and crippled. When it ended America had arisen as a major world power.

It seems insane in many ways that war even happened many of the rulers of these nations were blood first cousins. The Kaiser in Germany, the Tsar of Russia, and royal family of England even had family reunions together.

The war began for many reasons. For years the nations Europe had been growing in power and national pride. There was a great sense of nationalism in the common people of the major powers of the day. Most historians agree however that the powder keg that ignited the war was the assassination was the of the the Austrian Arch Duke Ferdinand. It was carried out by a pro Serbian secret society called The Black Hand. His death angered the smaller nations and soon their larger allies became involved. This was an excuse to release long held tension and grab power and excerpt themselves as the major powers in the world. Russia sided with their old ally Serbia. Germany sided with Austria-Hungry and attacked France. England jumped in and used it as an excuse to take many of Germany’s Colonies in Africa and the Pacific. Italy trying to flex their mussels joined Germany and Austria. The Ottoman Empire became involved and declared War on France Russia and England.

As the war began both sides experienced massive casualties. One reason was the new technology the rapid firing machine gun made short work of an army wearing bright colors marching in formation towards it. That is exactly what happened! The Generals were using 19th century tactics to fight a 20th century war, and the best and bravest were mowed down to these new machines. Soon the tactics and uniforms changed and the war became a living hell. Trenches were dug and barbed wire was risen. Mustered Gas was used to drive troops from there trenches. Under these circumstances the Americans joined the war and tipped the scales in favor of England and France. On the Eastern front Russian troops starved and eventually left the fight marched home and helped overthrow the Tsar. In Germany things became bad and the Kaiser lost his power and Austria-Hungry was split into two nations and was never again a major power. Italy turned on there allies and suffered much. The Ottoman Empire became but a footnote in history. France was never quite the same and England began to decline as a world power.

The major Conflicts of the last 90 all stem from the result of this war. WWII, The Cold War, and The War on Terror all came about because of this war.

The second world war was in a large part a result of the way Germany was humiliated and economically devastated. As a result the government after the war was week and the people were quit unhappy. under these circumstances the Nazi’s rose to power promising to restore Germany to its former glory. Also In Russia the communists inflicted a horrible and brutal social restructuring program that left millions dead especially in the Ukraine. When Hitler ‘s armies came to the Ukraine he met with little resistance because many Ukrainians saw the Nazi’s as liberators from Communist oppression. In many European schools WWI and WWII are taught as one war. The Germans saw it that way.

The Cold War was in many ways a result of WWI. Had the war not gone so bad for Russia the Tsar most likely would not have been deposed. Russia was hurt badly by the war and under these conditions the Bolsheviks, the most an extremist leftest imaginable group took control of the country, and created the Soviet Empire. After WWII the Soviets took control of eastern Europe and spreed Communism into China. The Cold War was a result of this. Under the Nazi’s millions died. But Under Communism even more died.

The War On Terror is also a product of WWI. After the Ottoman empire fell England and France redrew the map of the middle east setting up monarchs in the region. Often times when redrawing the map (like in Iraq) tribal religious, and ethnic differences were ignored and not understood. The map was drawn around oil wealth and many of the monarchs put into power were nothing but corrupt puppets of the European powers. The King of Egypt was known to have the largest pornography collection in the world. This decadence was a front to the values of many of his people. This helped give rise to a religious extremist group called the Islamic Brotherhood. As monarchs were and corrupt they were overthrown. This created political and economic problems in these nations. This angered many people who blamed the west. This allowed the Islamic brotherhoods message to spread and grow in popularity. Every major Muslim Terrorist group today can be traced to the Islamic brotherhood.

In 500 years historians will probably look back at the 20th century as the aftermath of The First World War. I am amazed at how little I was taught about the war in school. They taught us a few dates and facts but that was about it. We spent lots of time on the American Revolution, Civil War, WWII, and Vietnam but we learned so little about a war that has affected us more than any other war in the past 100 years.

Sources

1. First World War
2. BYU
3. Air
4. PBS