Category Archives: Civilians and Refugees in War

Refugee Shelters by IKEA

Most wars produce numerous refugees, who flee from war zones. Protracted civil conflicts often force millions of civilians to flee from their homes and to seek shelter in safe regions or in neighboring countries. Refugee camps proliferate across the borders … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, Globalization, History of Violence, Human Rights, Laws of War, War, Culture, and Society | 1 Comment

Sex, Gender, and World War II

Marie Louise Roberts explores gender and sexuality among American soldiers serving in France during the Second World War in a new book entitled, What Soldiers Do: Sex and the American GI in World War II France. Roberts is Professor of … Continue reading

Posted in Civilians and Refugees in War, European History, French History, Gender and Warfare, History of Violence, War, Culture, and Society, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Historical Perspectives on Climate Change

How will climate change affect human societies worldwide in the coming years?  It is difficult to envision all of the potential ramifications of climate change, but disaster planners certainly need to prepare for extreme climate events. One of the best … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic World, Civilians and Refugees in War, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Environmental History, European History, European Wars of Religion, History of Science, Maritime History, Mediterranean World, State Development Theory, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment

Saving Manuscripts in Timbuktu

When Malian rebels and Islamist militants took control of Timbuktu last year, they targeted Sufi shrines and cultural heritage sites they viewed as idolatrous. They also aimed to destroy medieval manuscripts that they consider heretical and secular. Most of Timbuktu’s … Continue reading

Posted in Archival Research, Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, Museums and Historical Memory, Religious Violence, Revolts and Revolutions, War, Culture, and Society | 1 Comment

Buddhists and Religious Violence in Myanmar

Buddhist monks have been involved in several waves of anti-Muslim violence in Myanmar, and certain Buddhist leaders are accused of motivating and orchestrating recent attacks. “In the Western stereotype, Buddhists are meditating pacifists who strive to keep their distance from … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, History of Violence, Religious Violence | 1 Comment

Renaissance Martyrs Canonized

Pope Francis has canonized the 800 Martyrs of Otranto, who were supposedly executed by Ottoman forces after the southern Italian town of Otranto surrendered in 1480. Otranto was caught up in maritime and naval conflicts during the Renaissance, as the … Continue reading

Posted in Civilians and Refugees in War, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, European History, European Union, Italian History, Mediterranean World, Religious Violence, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment

Early Modern Atlantic World: Slavery, Race, Governance

The Center for African American History at Northwestern University held a conference this weekend on “The Early Modern Atlantic World: Slavery, Race, Governance.” I was able to attend two sessions of the conference and heard some fascinating presentations by Kristin … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic World, Civilians and Refugees in War, Conferences, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, History of Violence, Human Rights, Mediterranean World, War, Culture, and Society | 1 Comment

Rape in the Syrian Civil War

Sexual assault often accompanies military conflict. In many wars, some soldiers use their armed power to inflict sexual violence on prisoners and civilians. Sexual violence can at times become systematic, targeting specific groups of combatants or civilians to intimidate and … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, Gender and Warfare, History of Violence, Human Rights, War, Culture, and Society, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Inside the Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Civil War continues to rage. Approximately 70,000 Syrians have already been killed and an estimated 4 million Syrians have fled their homes as refugees. PBS’s Frontline recently aired a gripping documentary on “Syria Behind the Lines.” The documentary … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, Gender and Warfare, History of Violence, Religious Violence, Revolts and Revolutions, War in Film, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Habemus Papam

White smoke billowing from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel today (14 March 2013) indicated that a new pope has been elected: “Habemus Papam!” Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, has been elected pope and has taken the title … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, European History, History of Violence, Human Rights, Italian History, Political Culture, Religious History | Leave a comment