chankya

EDIT: I don't really see how I can expand my comments. But If someone takes issue with something particular I'd be happy to explain

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Feanor

So you agree that the earliest back conflict would be the most important one?

RustyBattleship

I voted for World War I. It was at the start of tremendous advances in manufacturing, inventing, improvement of education, more social awarness and technilogical improvements that eventually landed men on the Moon and provides us with this computerized forum with members from all over the world. It showed the suicidal futility of using 19th century battle tactics against Maxim Machineguns. The improvement of artillery pieces was so advanced (even then) that one gun could fire as much ammunition in one day as a gun could in an entire campaign less than 50 years before.

The 20th century in itself (actually starting around 1892, but who's counting) has had more of an impact on our lives, education and way of living than all of the other centuries in human history combined.

Sure, the Roman conquests were important - in their time and some marks are still left by them. Same with the Viking expansions and coastal demographics. The US Navy 21 foot whaleboat was an almost exact but scaled down copy of a Viking Dragonship. But even those don't exist anymore.

The Civil War brought our split nation back together, but bitterness and hatred was still prevalent up until the 1950's or so. It took 20th century ear slapping to finally get that knocked off (with the exception of a few die hards of the KKK).

Technilogical advancements of the Civil War war showed where mass production of firearms still had some kinks to be worked out. Balloons were first used for high observation platforms and were personally witnessed and inspected by a certain Graf Zeppelin. Mechanical transportation was still by steam powered boats or locomotives (my grandmother's time - and she lived long enough to watch men walk on the Moon while sitting comfortably in our living room watching a Television set that was still Science Fiction when Buster Crabb made his Buck Rogers movies).

Prior to the 20th century, wireless communication was not developed yet. Critical medicines and medical techniques were still wanting. A computer was a PERSON who COMPUTES the daily receipts or adds up ticket sales.

Flying was still for the birds.

In a pre-20th century edition of Scientific American, one of their most esteemed scientists proclaimed that "Besides a few details here and there, we have learned everything that is possible to know." Talk about a foot in the mouth.

Shamefully, students today actually know very little of the 20th century because history classes are really outdated and spend too much time on the Saxon invasions and what date Marie Antoinette got a close shave (getting some of the more imaginative students excited picturing a beautiful woman being decapitated).

I recall once, quite a few years ago, I quoted "Ask not what your Country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country". "John F. Kennedy in his inaugral address".

Our daughter looked at me (I think she was in Junior College by then) and said, "Dad. You know I've heard that saying before. But we never knew who said it."

"Why?" I asked in utter disbelief.

"Because we never get past the Spanish American War, if we got past the Civil War at all, in history classes when the school year runs out."

Good Lord Almighty. THE most important and most relavant century of ALL humankind and our schools don't teach it.

We are doomed.

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JAD_333

[quote=RustyBattleship;425259]You make a good case, Rusty. It always seemed to me when I was growing up in the 1950s that WWI wasn't that long ago. However, I think WWII, being closer, had more of an effect on me, and, as far as I can recall, also on everyone else.

But I chose the cold war because it's the last war on the list. The wars on the list run in chronological order and, while the list isn't complete, all of those wars are intertwined--you know, like the end of one is the beginning of the other even though there is a period of peace in between.

Speaking of wars, the thought occurs to me that man never stops warring except to take breaks to rest up. So, rather than peace interrupted by war, it's war intereupted by peace. Cheers.

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Kansas Bear

Sounds very reminiscent of something said on "Babylon 5".....

texacali

WWII, for the reason that it introduced nuclear weapons. Atomic fallout is a global concern, involving the whole planet and not just the combatants.

RustyBattleship

Hmmm. I forget; was that Londo Marlari or G'Kar that said that?

wajahat

yom-kippur war anyone ???

Kansas Bear

IIRC it was Michael Garibaldi.

Canmoore

RB would you say that the American Revolution was an extension of the Seven Years War/French Indian Wars?

RustyBattleship

There is no question that there is a connection between the French Indian War and the Revolutionary War. But one did not lead to the other.

Rather the French Indian War allowed the Colonists a chance to learn warfare and tactics (from Indians who preferred to attack from ambush because they thought marching in rank and file was suicidal - which it was) that were used in the Revolutionary War (at least at the start).

George Washington was in command of "rangers" called the Green Mountain Men (or something like that). So he was already trained as an ambush fighter and was adept at hit and run tactics. But like everybody, he goofed up in one attack and killed a French emissary who was on a peaceful mission.

He applied for a commission in the British Army but was turned down. Some suspect that geneologists discovered he was a distant cousin of King George and might be given more favoritism than he deserved.

Their loss, our gain.

Canmoore

Thanks, that was why I omitted the American Revolution from the list. I new that it made a huge impact on the world. But I felt it was a continuation of the French Indian Wars.

I never gave thought to what you just said, but I am glad you gave those points. I always thought of it this way. The elimination of France meant that there was no longer a need for British protection. Also, the heavy taxation of the 13 colonies to cover the costs of the war, or "taxation without representation" was a driving force for the war.

The same can be said about the Russian Revolution and the Cold War I guess. That brings another question, which revolution had the furthest reaching effects? The Russian or American Revolution? I am partial to say that the American Revolution.. I think that I should have omitted the Russian Revolution for the American one.

Ironduke

Hah, I used to be addicted to Babylon 5 too. Thought it was a great show, the conflict, depth of characters, settings, plots, graphics were all stellar.

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lwarmonger

On the contrary, line warfare was the only truly effective way to win.

In North America it was adapted, however, to include clouds of skirmishers in addition to the lines of battle. The British had to relearn that from the Seven Years War (part of their problem was they introduced many commanders just in from Europe when they shipped additional troops from the continent, who were unfamiliar with that type of line warfare).

taygone

I voted Cold War.

It was the war of US vs Them - Capatalism vs Communism/Socialism. Which lead to Republican vs Democrat where Conservatives accuse Liberals as being Socialists, if you weren't loyal you were called a commie in the 80's. A war without a single shot being fired (officially) spread Democracy world wide and toppled the other Super Power at the time. Many military carreers were built on "what if they push the button?".
I was close to picking WWI and I understand the impact it has had and still maybe doing, but I grew up at the tail end of the Cold War and think its effects haven't been fully felt yet.
I think an honorable mention is the Mongol Invasion. Who hasn't heard of Ghengis Khan? I heard his tactics are still being used today or influenced today's tactics according to History International.