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4:27 You're spot on with the reference to the wars of the roses. Civil warfare can either be the bloodiest thing imaginable, or it can be quite bloodless, especially if its fought for political power by political leaders. Key examples for this phenomenon include the Caesarean Civil wars in Rome and the wars of Anthony and Octavian, and the earlier wars of the Diadochi, Alexanders successors. The leaders of the army are more than willing to go to war against each other but the soldiery don't want to kill their fellow countrymen, their comrades even, especially the Veterans (veteran legionnaires/silver shields), who've spent too much time killing barbarians in the ends of the earth together to turn on each other. The number of times when two generals in either period are about to fight and then the officers and veterans of both sides have a group huddle and decide that they're not fighting today, and they better figure out a diplomatic solution, or one side likes the others deal better and so just walks over and joins their army.
A great read,even though it's a work of fiction ( but with accurate historical references) is American author Nicholas Guild's "The Assyrian" and its sequel "The Blood Star".
I wonder how Assyrians today view the more tyrannical tendencies of their ancient ancestors, and if they debate at all among themselves over whether they should glorify their legacy or not. I suppose that given how far removed we are from that time period now, they can just go the Mongolia route of saying, "yeah we did it and it was based" and no one would particularly care
I would assume that thought would apply to all peoples everywhere in all of time. Not one group of people are innocent of violating our very modern sense of what is right.
Sounds a bit similar to Henry FitzEmpress and his 3 oldest sons, Henry, Geoffry, and Richard, and the least impressive, bratty youngest son John. John was his least favorite son, until the other three decided to attempt to depose him, then John became the new favorite. Edit: yep, should've watched it all before commenting.
That was a lot better than getting lost in Wikipedia hyperlinks for hours!
4:27 You're spot on with the reference to the wars of the roses. Civil warfare can either be the bloodiest thing imaginable, or it can be quite bloodless, especially if its fought for political power by political leaders.
Key examples for this phenomenon include the Caesarean Civil wars in Rome and the wars of Anthony and Octavian, and the earlier wars of the Diadochi, Alexanders successors. The leaders of the army are more than willing to go to war against each other but the soldiery don't want to kill their fellow countrymen, their comrades even, especially the Veterans (veteran legionnaires/silver shields), who've spent too much time killing barbarians in the ends of the earth together to turn on each other.
The number of times when two generals in either period are about to fight and then the officers and veterans of both sides have a group huddle and decide that they're not fighting today, and they better figure out a diplomatic solution, or one side likes the others deal better and so just walks over and joins their army.
A great read,even though it's a work of fiction ( but with accurate historical references) is American author Nicholas Guild's "The Assyrian" and its sequel "The Blood Star".
I wonder how Assyrians today view the more tyrannical tendencies of their ancient ancestors, and if they debate at all among themselves over whether they should glorify their legacy or not. I suppose that given how far removed we are from that time period now, they can just go the Mongolia route of saying, "yeah we did it and it was based" and no one would particularly care
I would assume that thought would apply to all peoples everywhere in all of time. Not one group of people are innocent of violating our very modern sense of what is right.
11:35 Esarhaddon was the Keyser Söze of the ancient world.
Sounds a bit similar to Henry FitzEmpress and his 3 oldest sons, Henry, Geoffry, and Richard, and the least impressive, bratty youngest son John.
John was his least favorite son, until the other three decided to attempt to depose him, then John became the new favorite.
Edit: yep, should've watched it all before commenting.