The Devastating Toll of Wars Throughout History: From Ancient Conflicts to Modern Times
Wars have been raging among mankind since time immemorial. History has inscribed on its pages tales of conflicts between races and nations. However, the toll of war is measured in human lives! The repercussions of war are immeasurable, causing devastation, loss, and the ruination of races and nations.Wars between nations originated in prehistoric times and persist to this day, taking various forms across the globe. It is documented that approximately 14,500 wars have occurred between nations over the course of 3,500 years. By the conclusion of the 20th century, wars and the ensuing plagues claimed the lives of 3.5 billion people. Notably, the Second World War, which spanned from 1939 to 1945, resulted in the tragic demise of around 84.6 million individuals.The discourse surrounding the principles governing the conduct of nations during wartime has endured for over 1,000 years. Moral standards for warfare have been established. A declaration of war must come from an authoritative entity with legal jurisdiction. The objective of war should be to eradicate evil forces and promote good. Wars must be conducted with fairness. War should be the final recourse and ultimate weapon of a country. The United Nations should oversee and monitor adherence to these principles.
The Risk of War and Terrorism: Exploring Extremism’s Origins and Path to Eradication
In this era, border issues create the risk of war between neighboring countries. Even when a country is affected by terrorism, war becomes an inevitable factor. Although many world leaders have been saying that peace secures the lives of people worldwide, it seems to have been disregarded, leading to an increase in terrorism. Where does extremism originate, and how can it be eradicated? Without investigating its roots, affected countries tend to prioritize war.
Now, let’s take a step back to understand the war-torn countries and their sufferings over the past centuries. In war, countless human lives and livestock perish. When one country engages in warfare with another, ancient monuments in cities are destroyed by military, naval, and air strikes. People’s homes and government offices are reduced to rubble.
Palmyra’s Ancient Monuments and Cultural Center Destroyed by Anti-Religious Bombs in Syria’s "Desert Oasis"
Located southwest of the Burat River in Syria, Palmyra is a beautiful ancient city known as the "Desert Oasis." Ancient monuments dating back 2000 years in the city of Palmyra were destroyed by anti-religious bombs. Declared as a heritage city by UNESCO, the ancient Mesopotamian civilization used to worship the god "Bel." In this temple, the moon god 'Akibol' and the sun god 'Yarkibol' were worshipped. The Bell Temple is said to have been built 32 years before the birth of Christ. 150,000 tourists from around the world visit this temple every year. They destroyed the ancient monuments, including the Bel Temple, and razed them to the ground in the name of war. The annual festival was held in the ancient cultural center of Palmyra, which was also destroyed in the war.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Devastated by World’s Largest Bombshells
Japan’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the sites of the largest bombs ever detonated in the world. As a result, the water and electricity supply of these cities were disrupted. However, the Japanese government managed to repair the infrastructure within a week. On August 7, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, resulting in the highest loss of life. Despite the devastation, the Japanese government was able to resume train services that evening, except for the area directly affected by the atomic bomb.The bombing of Hiroshima completely destroyed 60,000 out of the 90,000 buildings in the city. In Nagasaki, 19,400 out of the city’s 52,000 buildings were leveled, although the hilly terrain helped limit the extent of the damage. During the war, Japan used 21,000 tons of TNT on Nagasaki and 15,000 tons on Hiroshima. In Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, there were 286,358 buildings and houses on that day. If the war had continued, the entire infrastructure of the country would have been at risk of complete destruction, leading to significant losses. In order to prevent further devastation, the Japanese king chose to avoid further conflict and surrendered to the enemy country.
World War II
During World War II, London endured relentless bombing for 57 consecutive days and nights, resulting in the destruction of approximately 95 percent of its buildings. The city center of London was leveled practically overnight. Over the course of eight months of war, England suffered extensive damage to its buildings and monuments. Since 1945, England has taken steps to preserve the war-torn buildings as war memorials, which are now scattered throughout various locations, including the capital city. Additionally, new buildings were constructed and existing structures were meticulously reconstructed on a large scale in the areas affected by the bombings, showcasing England’s commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing the devastated regions.
During the Five Years War, 67,707 tons of TNT were used on the German capital, Berlin. As a result, 80 percent of the buildings in Germany were destroyed. The city of Berlin was filled with rubble, collapsed buildings, and the sounds of death echoed among the flames. It is reported that 97 percent of the buildings in the German city were razed to the ground
In 1944, Germany’s Adolf Hitler issued an urgent order to his army commanders to 'blow up the city of Warsaw’, the capital of Poland. A frenzied Hitler’s forces made war on the sprawling city of Warsaw. 85 percent of buildings and ancient symbols were completely destroyed in Apur. Due to Germany’s warmongering in World War II, the buildings and ancient symbols of many countries disappeared. The city of Warsaw has recovered from the damage of the war and is now full of beautiful buildings.
Armzai, the capital of Georgia, was attacked by Arab forces in 713 AD and completely destroyed the city. In the year 1221, Genghis Khan attacked the Red City of Afghanistan, killed 3000 people and destroyed the magnificent buildings there. In 767, the old capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya, was completely destroyed by the Burmese invasion. All of the above beautiful war-torn cities have been completely destroyed without restoration and any traces of a kingdom.
Let alone the reason for waging war... but the consequences are very, very bad. There is no doubt that they will leave behind scars of tragedy. Extremism that intervenes now is a trigger for war. However, it is the duty of governments to explore solutions for this.
