Spiderman
Veteran Member
I consider the thirty years war to be World War 1, because it involved much of Europe and Russia, over 8 million died (which was extremely larger number than it looks, because it began in 1618, which was a time where battles were much smaller than in the 20th century).
For example, the American Revolution lasted roughly seven years , and all battles combined in all that time, was less than 40,000 dead on both sides, but that was a large war for it's time. In the 20th century, that many people have died in a single battle.
So, before even the American revolution, much fewer people were on earth, so for over 8 million to die in a war, was extremely costly.
In fact, there were areas of Germany where over 50% of the people were killed in that war.
If you had a war in Europe like the thirty years war today , and it wiped out that percentage of the population, and involved that many countries, we would definitely call it world war 3.
Who won the thirty years war in your opinion? It is debatable.
One thing is for certain, France and Sweden emerged very well, and it went bad for the "Holy Roman Empire".
Was there a more costly war before the thirty years war?
I would say Genghis Khan killed far more people, but I don't think you can call all of his different military campaigns a single War.
If so, the conquests of Genghis Khan were like a World war as well, because he conquered over 40% of the world, and wiped out over 11% of the world's population.
Napoleonic wars resembled a World war as well. If @ChristineM took over her country (France) conquered all those countries, parts of North Africa, Spain, Germany, parts of Italy, and the other nations Napoleon conquered, had herself crowned Empress, and invaded Russia making it all the way to the burning of Moscow, as Napoleon caused, everybody and their grandma would call it "World War 3", and Religious groups would say the Antichrist and Apocalypse is upon us.
@ChristineM , have you been to the tomb of Napoleon? It looks very nice.
For example, the American Revolution lasted roughly seven years , and all battles combined in all that time, was less than 40,000 dead on both sides, but that was a large war for it's time. In the 20th century, that many people have died in a single battle.
So, before even the American revolution, much fewer people were on earth, so for over 8 million to die in a war, was extremely costly.
In fact, there were areas of Germany where over 50% of the people were killed in that war.
If you had a war in Europe like the thirty years war today , and it wiped out that percentage of the population, and involved that many countries, we would definitely call it world war 3.
Who won the thirty years war in your opinion? It is debatable.
One thing is for certain, France and Sweden emerged very well, and it went bad for the "Holy Roman Empire".
Was there a more costly war before the thirty years war?
I would say Genghis Khan killed far more people, but I don't think you can call all of his different military campaigns a single War.
If so, the conquests of Genghis Khan were like a World war as well, because he conquered over 40% of the world, and wiped out over 11% of the world's population.
Napoleonic wars resembled a World war as well. If @ChristineM took over her country (France) conquered all those countries, parts of North Africa, Spain, Germany, parts of Italy, and the other nations Napoleon conquered, had herself crowned Empress, and invaded Russia making it all the way to the burning of Moscow, as Napoleon caused, everybody and their grandma would call it "World War 3", and Religious groups would say the Antichrist and Apocalypse is upon us.
@ChristineM , have you been to the tomb of Napoleon? It looks very nice.
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