Wars have appeared to be existed on earth since the beginning of human history. They have affected people and shaped the nations for a long time ago. Although time has changed as wars went on, most elements of wars remain the same. Ancient wars and modern wars are found to be similar in many ways. The causes of wars in both ancient times and modern times are alike. The purposes are also similar. The consequences, as well, turn to be the same. Therefore, wars in ancient times and wars in modern times are identical.
The causes of wars in ancient times and wars in modern times are similar. As being written on the book ‘Causes of War’ by Stephen Van Evera, many great wars in history and those presenting now a days have the same causes regarding to human distinction, religions, misunderstanding, and political and economic issues. The Crusades, the series of wars that took place during the 11th through 13th centuries, were the example of wars that resulted from the difference of religion in history as it was the conflict between the Christians and the Muslims (Trueman, 2000). In modern time, the dispute between the Palestinians and Israelis, for instance, also has involved much with religious issue as both sides are struggling over the Holy Land for the sacred places and religious sites (McNeely, 2007). Consequently, the causes of wars in both ancient times and in modern times are in common.
The purposes of wars in history and in modern world are alike as well. According to George Orwell, the basic purposes of creating wars are always that to gain power over the populations, to extend the territories, to get victory over one another, and to take control over the land. The Marathon, the First Persian War in history during 500 B.C., for instance, was occurred as Persia wanted to extend its territory, and the King Darius wanted to conquer Greece. This resulted as the conflict rose between the Persians and the Greece in purpose of the Persians to take over the other side (Califf, 2002). In modern time, Korean War, which broke out during 1950-1953, was an example of war with the purpose of taking control over the land. North Korea attacked South Korea in order to get the land under its control (Korean-War Team Corporation, 2009). Accordingly, the purposes of both ancient wars and modern wars are similar. They all broke with the intention of gaining power and getting the land under control.
The consequences of wars in both ancient times and modern times also turn out to be similar. Although one side may gain victory, wars lead to the loss of the huge numbers of people, as well as the fall of country’s economy and other damages as reported by Thomas Hurka. For example, the Third Macedonian War, which broke out in the history during 171 B.C. - 168 B.C., was resulted in a massive massacre in which countless lives were lost and over 150,000 people were sold into slavery (Heaton, 2005). In recent years, more than 1.5 million people were killed and about 2 million people were displaced during Angola’s 25-year civil war (Lumpkin, 2002). Thus, all wars – no matter in what time period it occurred – gave out the same consequences.
In conclusion, wars in ancient times and wars in modern times have many elements in common. They are caused by nearly the same reasons. They share the similar purposes. Their consequences end up being alike as well. One similarity should be added is that wars, in both ancient times and in modern times, shouldn’t be occurred at all. Although they have affected the world and are important to the history, they are not worth the cost – the loss of people. Last, ancient wars and modern wars are way similar and people should get rid of creating it.
References
Akamat. (2007, July 31). The Purpose of War According to George Orwell (1984). Retrieved September 14, 2010, from Word Press: http://akamat.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/the-purpose-of-war-according-to-george-orwell-1984/
Califf, D. J. (2002). Marathon (Battles That Changed the World). London: Chelsea House Publications .
Evera, S. V. (1999). Causes of War: Power and the Roots of Conflict. New York: Cornell University Press.
Heaton, C. (2005). Third Macedonian War. Retrieved September 15, 2010, from UNRV: http://www.unrv.com/empire/third-macedonian-war.php
Hurka, T. (2006). The Consequences of War. Retrieved September 15, 2010, from University of Toronto: http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~thurka/docs/Consequences.pdf
Korean-War Team Corporation. (2009). Korean War Summary. Retrieved September 15, 2010, from Korean War: http://www.korean-war.info/
Lumpkin, J. (2002). Humanitarian Consequences of War. Retrieved September 15, 2010, from Care: http://www.care.org/newsroom/specialreports/victimsofwar/index.asp
McNeely, D. (2007, December). Wars of Religion: An Ancient Scourge Reborn. Retrieved September 14, 2010, from World News & Prophecy: http://www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0712/warsreligion.htm
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