Posted on Jul 13, 2015
What is the largest cause of war throughout history?
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World history is filled with conflicts arising since the start of recorded history. What do you think the largest cause of war has been throughout history? Do you think the causes have changed over time, or are we still fighting for the same reasons that just look a little different? What do you think will cause the next large scale conflict?
Warfare
Politics
Social
Religion
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 43
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population pressure for more land/resources - food/fuel - access to previous, like ocean access, ancient times when they worked the land to death and then went for more land, cut down all of the trees and then invaded for more forests( fuel, ships, building), and getting rid of excess sons so that the old guys could have more young women
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Greed, in general terms, regardless if its for power, religion, politics, it all comes down to greed.
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LCpl Mark Lefler
CW3 (Join to see) - both of those and imposing what you have on others, its all a form of greed in the end.
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One guy threw a spear and then two guys threw a spear and soon two large villages started fighting.
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CW3 (Join to see)
And so on and so forth....do we then even remember why the first guy threw the spear?
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SSG (ret) William Martin
CW3 (Join to see) I have conducted lots of research on ancient Rome. I had to read it twice when I learned the Roman went battle which led to a war which led to the destruction of the Etruscans which stemmed from the sexual assault of a Roman woman. So that's clearly revenge.
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CW3 (Join to see)
Without a doubt that would be revenge SSG (ret) William Martin. Do you have any other examples of revenge starting a war at such a person on person level? Thanks for sharing?
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Of the 1,763 major conflicts in recorded history, only 123 of them can be classified as having been fought over religious differences - number one culprit is politics - the earlier conflicts were about wealth (power) or resources. However we have shifted to politics - However i feel the next big one will be about power (1% controlling 99% of the wealth).
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CW3 (Join to see)
Thank you for your comment SPC David S., you are right on as far as the reading I have done. I would have thought that religion would have been the number 1 cause by far, but all of the sources I can find denote political and resources at the top. Do you think the next big one will begin on a global scale or be more isolated?
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This is tough..... I choose the Religious Ideology....but I think it is a very close race between that and Resources....
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CW3 (Join to see)
My fist instinct was religious ideology, but I think resources and territory are more realistic. However, I think religious wars are fought in a different way than other conflicts.
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MAJ (Join to see)
There is generally a deeper economic reason for religious wars, religion is a good tool to motivate the masses but there is always a financial benefit for the politician. Islam is founded on the principle of raiding caravans in the name of religion.
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I'm going to go with religion seeing as we fought over the Holy Land in Jerusalem for how many centuries and Islam is fighting amongst itself over Shia and Suni ways of thought and the whole Protestants vs. Catholic thing in England. I think all have been major causes but religion just kind of sticks out more.
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I believe that most wars fought throughout history have been about resources, or in recent history - economics. Â There are exceptions such as the Middle East, but most conflicts have been about resources.
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CW3 (Join to see)
I see resources and economics as one in the same. After all, ultimately resources drive a nation's economy. Thank you for your post.
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I voted for Resources because it came closet to my one word answer MONEY. If you have not already read it I highly suggest "War is a Racket" by Smedley Butler two time reciepiant of the Medal of Honor.
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