European and Asian Wars

[Terry Lee Grams]

If you support the US involvement in European or Asian wars you should consider their history. This part of the world has been at war almost continually since 1000 BC resulting in almost constant changes in national boundaries and no significant periods of peace. Being involved with them just means that we will always be a war with all the negative consequences of that. This region of the world will always be at war it will never end and we should stay out of it.

EUROPEAN WARS (1000 BC – Present)

Ancient Period (1000 BC – 476 AD)

• Greek-Persian Wars (499–449 BC)
• Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC)
• Wars of Alexander the Great (336–323 BC)
• Punic Wars (264–146 BC)
• Roman Civil Wars (Various, 133–30 BC)
• Gothic Wars (249–554 AD)
• Fall of the Western Roman Empire (376–476 AD)

Medieval Period (476 – 1500)

• Byzantine-Arab Wars (629–1050)
• Viking Raids and Wars (8th–11th centuries)
• Norman Conquests (1066–1080s)
• Crusades (1096–1291)
• Hundred Years' War (1337–1453)
• Wars of the Roses (1455–1487)

Early Modern Period (1500 – 1800)

• Italian Wars (1494–1559)
• Thirty Years' War (1618–1648)
• Great Northern War (1700–1721)
• Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815)

19th and 20th Century Wars

• Crimean War (1853–1856)
• Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871)
• World War I (1914–1918)
• Spanish Civil War (1936–1939)
• World War II (1939–1945)
• Cold War Conflicts (1945–1991, various proxy wars)

Modern Wars (1991 – Present)

• Yugoslav Wars (1991–2001)
• Russo-Georgian War (2008)
• Russo-Ukrainian War (2014–present)

ASIAN WARS (1000 BC – Present)

Ancient Period (1000 BC – 600 AD)

• Warring States Period (475–221 BC, China)
• Maurya Wars (321–185 BC, India)
• Han-Xiongnu Wars (133 BC – 89 AD, China)

Medieval Period (600 – 1500)

• Arab Conquests (7th–8th centuries)
• Mongol Conquests (1206–1368)
• Ming-Qing Wars (17th century, China)

Early Modern Period (1500 – 1800)

• Sino-Japanese Wars (16th–19th centuries)
• Maratha Wars (17th–18th centuries, India)

19th and 20th Century Wars

• Opium Wars (1839–1860)
• Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864, China)
• Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)
• Chinese Civil War (1927–1949)
• World War II (1937–1945, including the Second Sino-Japanese War)
• Korean War (1950–1953)
• Vietnam War (1955–1975)

Modern Wars (1975 – Present)

• Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989)
• Gulf Wars (1991, 2003)
• Syrian Civil War (2011–present)

EUROPEAN BORDER CHANGES DUE TO WAR

Ancient Period (1000 BC – 476 AD)

• Persian Wars (499–449 BC) – Greek city-states remained independent from the Persian Empire.
• Wars of Alexander the Great (336–323 BC) – Created a vast empire stretching from Greece to India, later fragmented into the Hellenistic kingdoms.
• Punic Wars (264–146 BC) – Rome destroyed Carthage and annexed its territory (North Africa, Spain).
• Roman Conquests (146 BC – 476 AD) – Rome expanded across Europe, later split into Eastern and Western Empires.
• Fall of Western Roman Empire (476 AD) – Led to the emergence of various Germanic kingdoms (e.g., Visigoths in Spain, Franks in Gaul).

Medieval Period (476 – 1500)

• Byzantine-Arab Wars (7th–11th centuries) – Byzantines lost Syria, Egypt, and North Africa to the Arab Caliphates.
• Viking Wars (8th–11th centuries) – Established the Norman Kingdom of England (1066) and Kievan Rus expanded in Eastern Europe.
• Crusades (1096–1291) – Temporary Crusader states (Kingdom of Jerusalem) formed, later lost to Muslim forces.
• Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) – England lost all territories in France except Calais.

Early Modern Period (1500 – 1800)

• Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) – Treaty of Westphalia redrew Germany’s map, strengthening France and weakening the Holy Roman Empire.
• Great Northern War (1700–1721) – Russia gained the Baltic region, Sweden declined as a major power.
• Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) – France expanded but was later reduced to pre-war borders, Poland was partitioned, and the German Confederation was formed.

19th and 20th Century Wars

• Crimean War (1853–1856) – No major border changes but weakened the Ottoman Empire.
• Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) – France lost Alsace-Lorraine to Germany.
• World War I (1914–1918) – Major changes:
  • Austria-Hungary dissolved into Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.
  • Ottoman Empire dissolved, leading to Turkey and several mandates (Iraq, Syria).
  • Poland re-emerged as an independent nation.
  • Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia became independent.
• World War II (1939–1945) – Major changes:
  • Poland’s borders shifted westward.
  • Germany lost East Prussia and other lands to Poland and the USSR.
  • The Soviet Union annexed the Baltics and parts of Eastern Europe.
• Cold War Period (1945–1991) – Germany was divided, later reunited (1990).
• Yugoslav Wars (1991–2001) – Yugoslavia broke into Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo.
• Russo-Ukrainian War (2014–present) – Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, ongoing war over eastern Ukraine.

ASIAN BORDER CHANGES DUE TO WAR

Ancient Period (1000 BC – 600 AD)

• Warring States Period (475–221 BC) – Led to the unification of China under the Qin Dynasty.
• Maurya Wars (321–185 BC) – Expanded Maurya rule across most of India.
• Han-Xiongnu Wars (133 BC – 89 AD) – Expanded Han China into Inner Mongolia.

Medieval Period (600 – 1500)

• Arab Conquests (7th–8th centuries) – Expanded Islamic rule across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of South Asia.
• Mongol Conquests (1206–1368) – Created the largest contiguous empire in history, later fragmented into the Yuan Dynasty in China, the Golden Horde in Russia, and the Ilkhanate in Persia.
• Ming-Qing Wars (17th century) – The Qing Dynasty replaced the Ming, expanding Chinese control into Taiwan, Mongolia, and Tibet.

Early Modern Period (1500 – 1800)

• Sino-Japanese Wars (16th–19th centuries) – Shifted control of Korea and Taiwan between China and Japan.
• Maratha Wars (17th–18th centuries, India) – Led to British dominance in India.

19th and 20th Century Wars

• Opium Wars (1839–1860) – Britain gained Hong Kong from China.
• Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) – No direct border changes, but weakened the Qing Dynasty.
• Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) – Japan took control of Korea and parts of Manchuria.
• Chinese Civil War (1927–1949) – The Republic of China lost mainland China to the Communists, leading to the creation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the retreat of the Republic of China (ROC) to Taiwan.
• World War II (1937–1945) – Major changes:
  • Japan lost its empire, including Taiwan and Korea.
  • Korea was divided into North and South Korea.
• Korean War (1950–1953) – Borders remained at the 38th parallel.
• Vietnam War (1955–1975) – North and South Vietnam were unified under Communist rule.

Modern Wars (1975 – Present)

• Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989) – No direct border changes but destabilized Afghanistan.
• Gulf Wars (1991, 2003) – Iraq briefly occupied Kuwait in 1990 but was repelled.
• Syrian Civil War (2011–present) – No official border changes, but de facto zones of control exist.

Key Takeaways

• Europe saw major border shifts due to empire collapses (Roman, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Soviet).
• Asia experienced shifts primarily due to dynastic changes (China, India, Persia) and colonialism (British India, Japan’s empire).
• 20th-century wars (WWI & WWII) created the most significant and lasting border changes.
• Modern conflicts (post-1991) have caused fewer official border shifts but have led to disputed territories (e.g., Crimea, South China Sea, Taiwan).

Finding periods of total peace in Europe and Asia since 1000 BC is extremely difficult, as some form of conflict—whether large-scale wars, smaller regional conflicts, rebellions, or invasions—has almost always been occurring somewhere in these vast regions. However, I will outline the longest or most notable periods of relative peace, where there were no major, continent-wide wars.

Periods of Relative Peace in Europe and Asia Since 1000 BC

Ancient Period (1000 BC – 476 AD)

1. Pax Achaemenidica (c. 500–400 BC)
   • After the establishment of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (c. 550 BC), much of the Near East and Central Asia was stable under Persian rule. However, this was not absolute peace, as border skirmishes and revolts occurred.
   • Greek city-states still fought frequently, leading to the Persian Wars (499–449 BC).
2. Pax Romana (27 BC – 180 AD)
   • This was the greatest period of stability in Europe and the Mediterranean, as the Roman Empire maintained order across vast territories.
   • Minor conflicts continued along the borders (e.g., Germanic tribes, Parthian conflicts in the East), but there were no large-scale, continent-wide wars.

Medieval Period (476 – 1500)

1. Early Middle Ages (476–800 AD)
   • After the Fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD), Europe was fragmented, but there were fewer large wars because states were too weak to launch major campaigns.
   • Asia had various stable empires like the Tang Dynasty in China, but regional wars and nomadic invasions (e.g., Arabs, Vikings) still occurred.
2. Pax Mongolica (c. 1250–1350)
   • After the Mongol conquests, most of Asia and Eastern Europe were under Mongol rule, creating a period of relative peace.
   • The Silk Road was at its safest.
   • However, Mongol successor states still fought each other, and Europe had ongoing regional conflicts.

Early Modern Period (1500 – 1800)

1. Peace of Westphalia (1648–1700)
   • After the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648), Europe was relatively peaceful for a few decades.
   • Asia had stable empires like the Qing Dynasty in China, Ottoman Empire, and Mughal Empire in India, but border skirmishes persisted.

19th and 20th Century

1. Congress of Vienna & Pax Britannica (1815–1853)
   • After Napoleon's defeat (1815), Europe entered a long period of peace under British-led stability (Pax Britannica).
   • However, colonial conflicts occurred outside Europe, and Asia saw internal rebellions.
2. Interwar Period (1918–1939)
   • Between World War I and World War II, Europe and Asia were mostly at peace, despite some smaller conflicts (e.g., Spanish Civil War, Japanese invasions in China).

Modern Era (1945 – Present)

1. Cold War Stability (1945–1991)
   • Although the Cold War was full of proxy wars (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan), Europe and much of Asia were stable under superpower influence.
2. Post-Cold War Peace (1991–2001)
   • After the fall of the Soviet Union, there was relative global peace for about a decade.
   • However, small-scale wars like the Yugoslav Wars (1991–2001) and regional tensions continued.
3. Modern Period (2001–Present)

• While there has never been total peace, Europe has largely avoided major wars except for the Russo-Ukrainian conflict (2014–present).
• Asia still has ongoing disputes (e.g., India-China border tensions, Middle East conflicts).

Conclusion

• Total peace in both Europe and Asia has been extremely rare.
• The longest periods of stability include:
  • Pax Romana (27 BC – 180 AD)
  • Pax Mongolica (1250–1350)
  • Pax Britannica (1815–1853)
  • Cold War Stability (1945–1991)
• Even during these times, some smaller wars, revolts, and conflicts persisted.

 

[Willy]

Earth is the Universes insane asylum. At our present point in time, on Venus we worry about the foul atmosphere and heat, on Mercury it's an eternal sunburn, on the gas giants it's oppressive gravity but on the only planet in our system that's a paradise for life it's the damn humans to avoid. Keep your distance ET if you have half a brain.

Well done Terry.

[Terry Lee Grams]

WWIII would be catastrophic. Most people believe the allies won WWII but when you consider the deaths and injuries inflicted maybe they did not. Will anyone win the next global conflict or will everyone be a loser. If you support the wars raging around the world now you might want to consider this. The Lessons of World War II and the Risks of Future Global Conflict
World War II: The Costliest Conflict in History World War II remains the most devastating war in human history, with an estimated 70–85 million deaths, accounting for approximately 3-4% of the world’s population at the time.
These figures include both military and civilian casualties across the Allied and Axis powers. Casualty Breakdown
• Allied Powers: 55–60 million deaths. Soviet Union: 24–27 million - 50 times the USA loses and most of us think the USA should get credit for winning and that Ukraine loses hurt Russia!
o China: 15–20 million
o United States: 418,000
o United Kingdom: 450,000
o France: 600,000
o Other Allied Nations: Several million additional deaths
• Axis Powers: ~12–15 million deaths
o Germany: 7–8 million
o Japan: 3–3.5 million
o Italy: ~500,000
o Other Axis Nations: ~1–2 million
In addition to these deaths, military and civilian injuries exceeded 100 million worldwide, leading to a total casualty count surpassing 150 million.
Causes of High Casualties in WWII
Several factors contributed to these staggering numbers:
• Total War Strategy: Both military and civilian populations were targeted, increasing the
death toll.
• Strategic Bombing: Firebombing of cities (e.g., Dresden, Tokyo) and the nuclear
bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Eastern Front Brutality: The Soviet-German conflict alone accounted for over half of
all war deaths.
• The Holocaust & Genocide: The systematic extermination of millions of Jews, Romani
people, and others.
• Famines & Disease: War-related famine in China and British-controlled India caused
millions of deaths.
What Would Happen If a Modern-Day WWII Occurred?
Given today’s larger global population (8 billion vs. 2.3 billion in the 1940s) and the
increased lethality of modern weaponry, a war on the scale of WWII would likely result in
catastrophic casualties.
Projected Casualties in a Modern Global War
Using proportional scaling and adjusting for technological advancements, urbanization, and
medical improvements, estimates suggest:
• Estimated deaths: ~294 million
• Estimated injuries: ~275 million
• Total casualties: ~570 million
Potential Causes of a Modern-Day Global War
Several current conflicts pose a significant risk of escalation into a broader war:
• Russia-Ukraine War: Potential for NATO involvement, direct superpower
confrontation.
• China-Taiwan Tensions: A Chinese invasion of Taiwan could spark a Pacific-wide
conflict involving the U.S.
• Middle East Instability: Ongoing conflicts, terrorism, and nuclear tensions in the region
remain unpredictable.
The Probability of a Future Global War
Historical precedent suggests that regional conflicts escalate into world wars roughly 15% of
the time. However, modern deterrence mechanisms—such as nuclear weapons and economic
interdependence—reduce the likelihood.
Estimated Probability of Global War from Current Conflicts:
• Base likelihood (historical precedent): 15%
• Nuclear deterrence (-70% impact)
• Economic interdependence (-50% impact)
• Military alliances (+20% impact)
• Current conflict intensity (+40% impact)
• Political instability (+30% impact)
Final adjusted probability: ~4.91% chance of global war emerging from current conflicts.
Policy Implications: Avoiding Catastrophe
To prevent such an outcome, the United States must adopt a policy of military and economic
self-sufficiency, ensuring that:
• The U.S. maintains an unmatched military deterrence to prevent escalation.
• America disengages from unnecessary foreign military entanglements.
• Trade policies prioritize fairness and national security over reliance on foreign
economies.
• Foreign influence over U.S. politics and economic assets is eliminated.
Failure to adopt these policies will result in continued military overextension, economic decline,
and increased vulnerability to external manipulation. If a global war were to erupt under current
policies, the resulting destruction would dwarf even the horrors of World War II, with hundreds
of millions of casualties and untold global devastation.
The lessons of the past are clear: global war is avoidable, but only if nations prioritize strength, independence, and strategic disengagement from entangling alliances and conflicts. Casualty Statistics taken from "The Second World Wars" – Victor Davis Hanson