What is the largest cause of war throughout history?

The source of all conflict? PRIDE! From the Garden to today it has been pride that has motivated mankind to feel entitled to something worth fighting for.

Sir, do you think their are any instances where the difference between self-protection (of assets, way of life, beliefs, etc.) differs from the innate need to survive when threatened?

CW3 (Join to see) - Chief Warrant; Not to be flip, but what ended about 150 years ago?

The Civil War ended, and I think I fits nicely into self-protection/greed.

CW3 (Join to see) - Chief Warrant; Indeed it does, and there isn't any real way that it can be linked to "the innate need to survive when threatened" as "The North" was strong enough to survive on its own.

In fact, a good case can be made that, had the Confederacy achieved its war aims, then the Confederacy was (essentially) doomed as it could not survive economically without slavery and slavery was irrevocably doomed to vanish in any event.

The most likely outcome (if "The Union" had accepted the succession of the "Slave States" would have been a "Confederacy" shut off from the interior of North America and reliant on a single cash crop which the world's markets had already discovered a cheaper and better supply chain for. This would have left "The Confederacy" without the necessary capital with which to expand (and modernize) its economy and would have (almost inevitably) have lead to "The Confederacy" becoming (essentially) an "economic client state" of "The Union" and resulted in a situation where "The Union" could dictate economic terms that favoured "The Union" regardless of their impact on "The Confederacy".

Considering that one of the causes of the American Civil War was the feeling amongst "Southern money" that "The South" was on the verge of becoming an "economic client state" of "The North" - which could dictate economic terms that favoured "The North" regardless of their impact on "The South", the most probable outcome would have been for "The Union" to have won the American Civil War without actually having had to fight it.

Surely some of the most bloody of all time.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Colonel; Pardon my skepticism but what "religious ideology" was the cause of WWI and what "religious ideology" was the cause of WWII?

Of the 28 wars with more than 1,000,000 fatalities, only two are "religious wars" (and you have to get down to number 17 on the list before you even meet the first of them [and, technically, since that listing is actually an amalgamation of several individual wars, it shouldn't even be on the list so that the first "religious war" would actually be number 23 {out of 27}]).

COL Ted Mc thank you sir and Yes I realize that now, but my initial perception was still there in the back of my mind because of the atrocities committed in some of those wars. I was educated earlier by SPC Jeff Daley, PhD as well.

I think they all fit somewhere depending on the war. Perhaps they all fit in regard to every war?

CW3 (Join to see) I'm thinking Chinese Menu .. one from column A, two from column B, with parties of 10 or more, extra from column C.

Money

Economicus the greek guy who gave us economics wrote a great book on how to get rich quick the preferred method being take it from your neighbor. It's always about the money and subsequent power.

Thus why the Spartans went warring every year they grabbed slaves from neighboring territories thus creating much of their economic system.

It was Sparta's entire economic system Spartans were only Soldiers the slaves did all the chores and non military work. Much of Rome was built on pillaging, certainly funded their military and public works.
The war in Crimea/Ukraine is about access to winter sea ports, this is the 4th time Russia has invaded.
Most of the crusades were about trade routes and mutual defense.
Simple facts if the war isn't about money it is very difficult to finance.

Indeed they all have caused wars SCPO (Join to see). Now about the popsicle, I think that is an even split between "Resources" and "Revenge." Of course, you could also include "Power" in there, afterall in the end you reestablished your dominance!

Yeah, and I got a bigger, better Popsicle, too!!!

Did you get the pop sickle? Was it worth the disapproval of your brother? If yes to both, your low intensity conflict got the results you wanted.

I received another popsicle, yes. Sixty years later, I still live for his DISAPPROVAL. And I do not eat popsicles anywhere near him!!!

In fairness, Hitler stated that his mission was Christian and that he was acting on what he felt god called him to do... I'd say that falls squarely under "religion".

SGM Steve Wettstein and SFC Michael Hasbun do you think it is a possibility that Hitler's use of religion truly had less to do with religion and more to do with bolstering his own agenda? He simply used it as a propaganda tool to get millions of citizens to rally behind.

It's always possible, but he seemed fairly sincere in his writing, plus nazi uniforms and banners are rife with christian iconography and messages, so if it was a ruse, it was elaborate to say the least...

I agree with you, but think some may argue that religion is not about power at all.

They might but I'd disagree with them. When you try to push people to conform to what your ideas are, thats about power. You see that with ISIS, you that with the Crusades, the Reformation, split between Pakistan and India, etc.

That was my first guess as well COL Charles Williams, but I think we need to look toward resources.

CW3 (Join to see) - Did I win?

Helen! Oh wait that was about Troy's money as well. And Cleopatra was really about Rome's civil wars power struggles. It's always about the money.

I have to agree that money (Resources) is at the top of the list!

Not sure if Cleopatra would have the pull to make the list!

MSgt Erik Copp Hooah. I have heard the root of all evils are sex, power, and money...