War and Civilization: Crash Course World History 205

CrashCourse
9 Aug 201412:48
EducationalLearning
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TLDRIn this episode of Crash Course World History, John Green explores the complex relationship between war, human development, and civilization. He delves into how wars, originally competitions for resources, have paradoxically fostered cooperation, led to the development of cities and agriculture, and even shaped political leadership and social organization. Green examines the defensive and economic advantages of agriculture over herding, the role of war in the rise of political leaders, and the impact of military innovations on state power. Through examples ranging from ancient city-states to empires like Rome, he demonstrates how warfare has influenced the evolution of societies, economies, and governance, while also pondering the modern shift towards peace driven by economic interdependence.

Takeaways
  • 🌍 War has been a significant topic in world history, but this discussion focuses on its abstract aspects rather than specific battles.
  • πŸ€” The assumption that war is inherently bad is challenged, with the consideration that it might have had positive effects on human development.
  • πŸ™οΈ Early human settlements and cities may have originated due to the need for defense against raids, suggesting war could have led to the beginning of agriculture.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Agriculture provided both defensive value and resource surpluses, supporting the formation of larger warrior groups and political leadership.
  • πŸ‘‘ Successful war leaders in ancient times could establish and expand their power through conquests and the distribution of war spoils.
  • 🏰 City-states developed both physically and politically due to the influence of war, with walls built for defense and civil militias emerging as effective forces.
  • πŸ›οΈ The Roman Empire serves as an example of how a city-state could rise to power through military success and become a major empire.
  • πŸ’° The rise of gunpowder weapons led to states centralizing power to fund military advancements, which in turn influenced the global dominance of Europe.
  • 🌐 Wealth gained from trade and colonies allowed European powers to invest in technology and industry, reinforcing their military advantages.
  • πŸ•ŠοΈ The economic benefits of peace, such as good trade relations, have become more valued than the costs of war, leading to a decline in major power conflicts.
  • πŸ—³οΈ Liberal democracies tend to be less war-prone due to accountability to constituents who are less likely to support costly and deadly wars.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of discussion in this Crash Course World History episode?

    -The main topic of discussion in this episode is the abstract concept of war, its role in human history, and its potential positive effects on human development.

  • What is the presenter's stance on the assumption that war is generally bad?

    -The presenter acknowledges that war is destructive and harmful to individuals, but questions whether it might have had some positive impacts on human development.

  • How does the presenter suggest war could have led to the formation of human settlements?

    -The presenter suggests that the need for defense against raids might have led to the gathering of people into groups, which could have resulted in the formation of human settlements and, potentially, cities.

  • What role does agriculture play in the presenter's argument about war?

    -The presenter argues that agriculture might have originated as a defensive strategy against raids and that it provides the resource surpluses necessary to sustain larger groups, which could lead to more warfare.

  • How does the rise of the Zulu nation illustrate the connection between war and political leadership?

    -The rise of the Zulu nation shows how military strength allowed a chief, Shaka, to extend control over other chiefdoms, creating a larger political entity through conquest and warfare.

  • What is the significance of the Roman legion in the context of this discussion?

    -The Roman legion is presented as an example of a citizen-militia that was both an effective fighting force and a political catalyst, demonstrating how city-states and warfare influenced each other.

  • What does the presenter suggest about the relationship between empires and military power?

    -The presenter suggests that empires rely heavily on military power to rule over diverse groups of people and that the nature of empires involves one group dominating others.

  • Why does the presenter argue that the age of gunpowder weapons led to states gaining more power?

    -The presenter argues that the high cost of gunpowder weapons necessitated modernization of bureaucracies and tax collection systems, which in turn increased state power over their subjects.

  • What is the presenter's view on the shift from conquest to trade as a means of accumulating wealth?

    -The presenter believes that the shift to trade reflects a recognition that it is a safer and more reliable way to accumulate wealth than conquest, especially for liberal democracies.

  • How does the presenter explain the decrease in wars between major powers in modern times?

    -The presenter explains that the decrease in wars is due to the increasing economic benefits of peace, such as good trade relations, which provide more wealth and resources for all parties involved.

  • What does John Stewart Mill argue about the future of war in relation to commerce?

    -John Stewart Mill argues that commerce teaches nations to value the wealth and prosperity of others, making war obsolete as nations recognize the mutual benefits of trade and cooperation.

Outlines
00:00
🌍 Introduction to the Abstract Concepts of War

This paragraph introduces the topic of war in an abstract sense, with John Green, the host, promising to discuss war for the last time in this context. He acknowledges the complexity and esoteric nature of the topic, but emphasizes its importance in human existence. The discussion pivots to the potential positive effects of war and violence on human development, challenging the assumption that war is universally negative. It explores the idea that wars, initially as raids, could have led to the formation of human settlements and cities, and that agriculture might have developed as a defense mechanism. The role of war in establishing political leadership and the rise of chiefdoms into kingdoms is also considered, using the Zulu nation as a case study.

05:04
🏰 The Impact of War on Empires and City-States

This paragraph delves into the relationship between empires, military power, and the dynamics of war. It explains that empires rely on military strength to rule over diverse groups of people, but warns of the pitfalls of relying on mercenaries who lack loyalty to the state. The discussion highlights how empires face internal and external threats as they grow, leading to their eventual decline. The paragraph also examines the influence of war on the development of city-states, emphasizing the defensive measures likeεŸŽε’™ that cities had to build, and how these city-states shaped warfare through the use of citizen militias. The Roman legion is cited as an example of a successful citizen-militia. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on why large empire-building wars are less common in modern times.

10:06
πŸ’° The Economic Shift from War to Trade

In this paragraph, the focus shifts to the economic aspects of war and how it has evolved over time. It discusses the impact of gunpowder weapons on warfare and state power, leading to the modernization of bureaucracies and tax systems. The paragraph highlights the rise of Europe's dominance due to its wealth from trade and colonies, which allowed for investment in technology and military advancements. The narrative progresses to explain how the cost of maintaining armies and navies led to the recognition that wealth is power, and that trade became a safer and more profitable means of accumulating wealth than conquest. The paragraph also touches on the tendency of liberal democracies to engage in fewer wars due to their accountability to constituents and the high costs of warfare. It concludes by reflecting on the benefits of peace, both in terms of avoiding conflict and fostering good trade relations, and acknowledges that while war has shaped human history, it seems to be becoming less necessary and obsolete.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘War
War is a state of armed conflict between different groups or states. In the context of the video, war is discussed as a complex phenomenon that has shaped human history, influencing the development of agriculture, cities, and states. The video explores the abstract nature of war and its potential positive effects on human development, despite its destructive nature.
πŸ’‘Resources
Resources refer to valuable assets or commodities that can be used for various purposes, such as economic gain or military advantage. The video discusses how wars are often fought over the competition for resources, and how the control of resources like agriculture and cities can lead to the formation of states and empires.
πŸ’‘Agriculture
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock for food, fiber, and other purposes. In the video, it is suggested that the development of agriculture might have been influenced by the need for defense against raids, which in turn could have led to the establishment of human settlements and cities.
πŸ’‘Cities
Cities are large and permanent human settlements characterized by a high density of population. The video explains that cities began as settlements that needed to defend against raids, leading to the construction of walls and other defensive measures. The development of cities is closely tied to the evolution of states and the political organization of human societies.
πŸ’‘Political Leadership
Political leadership refers to the position or role of individuals who govern or direct the affairs of a group, organization, or state. In the video, it is argued that successful war leaders in ancient times could build up power and establish themselves as political leaders, often leading to the formation of chiefdoms and kingdoms.
πŸ’‘Zulus
The Zulus are an ethnic group in South Africa with their own distinct culture and history. In the video, the rise of the Zulu nation is used as a modern analogy to illustrate how military strength and conquest can lead to the formation of larger political entities, with the early Zulu chiefs using military success to extend their control over other chiefdoms.
πŸ’‘Citizen-Militia
A citizen-militia is a military force composed of ordinary citizens who are also soldiers, typically serving on a part-time basis. The video uses the Roman legion as an example of a citizen-militia that was both an effective fighting force and a political catalyst, contributing to the development of the Roman Empire.
πŸ’‘Empires
Empires are large political entities characterized by the rule of one group over many others, often extending across continents. The video discusses how empires rely on military power to maintain control over diverse populations and how the nature of empires can lead to both internal and external conflicts.
πŸ’‘Mercenaries
Mercenaries are soldiers who fight for pay rather than for political reasons or national loyalty. In the video, it is mentioned that the use of mercenaries can lead to continuous warfare, as they are primarily motivated by loot and lack loyalty to the state, which can be problematic for empires that rely on them for military support.
πŸ’‘Trade
Trade refers to the exchange of goods and services between parties. The video highlights that trade, especially with colonies, became a more reliable and safer method of accumulating wealth than conquest in the modern era. This shift towards trade-based economies contributed to the decline of empire-building wars.
πŸ’‘Liberal Democracies
Liberal democracies are political systems that combine democratic principles with protections for individual liberties. The video suggests that liberal democracies are less likely to engage in war compared to other types of states, due to their accountability to constituents who may be averse to the costs of war, such as death and destruction.
Highlights

John Green introduces the topic of war in an abstract way, questioning its overall impact on human development.

The discussion acknowledges war's destructive nature but explores the possibility of positive effects on human progress.

Wars are often competitions for resources, but they can also lead to cooperation and the formation of human settlements.

Agriculture might have originated as a defense mechanism against raids, which in turn led to the development of cities.

Political leadership could be established through successful war efforts, with leaders needing continuous war to maintain power and supply loot to their followers.

The rise of the Zulu nation is cited as a modern example of how military strength can lead to the unification of smaller chiefdoms into larger kingdoms.

War and the development of city-states have a reciprocal relationship, with cities influencing the conduct of war and vice versa.

The Roman legion is highlighted as an example of a citizen-militia that was both an effective fighting force and a political catalyst.

Empires rely on military power to rule over diverse groups, but the use of mercenaries can lead to instability and a need for constant war.

The pre-modern world saw wars both creating and unmaking states and empires, with competition for power leading to conflict.

The introduction of gunpowder weapons changed warfare, making cities vulnerable and leading to states centralizing power to fund military technology.

Europe's dominance after 1500 CE is attributed to its wealth from trade and colonies, which funded technological and military advancements.

The modern era favors trade over conquest as a means of accumulating wealth, with trade being a safer and more profitable option.

Liberal democracies are less likely to engage in war due to accountability to constituents and the high costs of modern warfare.

The economic benefits of peace, such as good trade relations, have become more appealing than the costs of war.

John Stuart Mill's quote emphasizes how commerce has made war obsolete by fostering mutual benefits among nations.

Despite the decline in wars between major powers, the 20th century's two World Wars loom large over historical perceptions of conflict.

Crash Course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of war's role in shaping human societies and its implications for the future.

Transcripts

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WarHistoryHumanDevelopmentAgriculturalOriginsCityStatesEmpiresRiseMilitaryLeadershipTradeBenefitsPeaceAdvantagesColonialExploitationEconomicPower