Category Archives: History of Violence

Climate Change and Civil Conflict

Posted on August 26, 2011 by briansandberg

For decades, historians have examined evidence of correlations between climate change and civil conflict. Bad weather and sustained droughts have often been seen as causes of  peasant revolts and revolutions, such as the French Revolution of 1789, yet these arguments … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Environmental History, French Revolution and Napoleon, History of Violence, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World | 1 Comment

Mubarak’s Trial and the Ongoing Egyptian Revolution

Posted on August 4, 2011 by briansandberg

Former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak is currently being tried in Cairo, presenting a remarkable televised spectacle.  The Washington Post reports on the opening of the trial and Mubarak’s appearance in court. Many previous revolutionary movements have put their deposed leaders … Continue reading →

Posted in Comparative Revolutions, French Revolution and Napoleon, History of Violence, Human Rights | Leave a comment

Extremism in Europe

Posted on July 26, 2011 by briansandberg

The attacks in Norway have raised awareness of the threat posed by far-right extremist groups in Scandinavia and across Europe. Details are still emerging about the Norway attacks, but already Norwegians are reexamining their political culture, social structures, and laws.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Comparative Revolutions, European Union, History of Violence, Religious Violence, Terrorism | Leave a comment

Remembering Victims of Norway Attacks

Posted on July 24, 2011 by briansandberg

At least 92 people are dead and another 90 wounded from the bombing and shooting rampage in Norway on Friday 22 July. As a historian who studies the dynamics of violence, I want to remember the victims of the Norway … Continue reading →

Posted in European Union, History of Violence, Terrorism | Leave a comment

Bread Riots in Mozambique

Posted on June 8, 2011 by briansandberg

Last year, high bread prices led to bread riots across Mozambique.  This summer promises to create similar economic conditions and protests. Early modern historians are very familiar with the dynamics of bread riots in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century societies.  A number … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Early Modern World, Environmental History, Food and Cuisine History, History of Violence | Leave a comment

Society for Military History Conference

Posted on June 8, 2011 by briansandberg

The Society for Military History Conference is coming to the Chicago area this weekend.  This conference is the annual meeting of the largest academic and professional society for military history in the United States.  This year, the conference theme is … Continue reading →

Posted in Conferences, Early Modern Europe, History of Violence, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Al Qaeda’s Paper Trail

Posted on May 31, 2011 by briansandberg

Al Qaeda apparently used business-like accounting practices, leaving a significant paper trail of receipts and account books. A story on NPR reports on emerging details of the Al Qaeda organization, resulting from computers and documents seized during the recent raid … Continue reading →

Posted in History of Violence, Terrorism, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Iraq War Memorial

Posted on May 29, 2011 by briansandberg

What would an Iraq War Memorial look like, if one were to built in Washington, D.C.? An art historian explores this question in an op-ed in the Washington Post. This piece considers the construction of recent war memorials in Washington, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art History, History in the Media, History of Violence, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

General Ratko Mladic Captured

Posted on May 26, 2011 by briansandberg

After 16 years as a fugitive, former Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic has been captured in Serbia. General Mladic commanded the Bosnian Serb Army during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.  Mladic is accused of orchestrating the Massacre … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, European History, European Union, History of Violence, Religious Violence, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Millennialists believe in Impending Last Days

Posted on May 8, 2011 by briansandberg

A new group of Christian millennarians led by fundamentalist Harold Camping is proclaiming that the world will end on 21 May 2011, when true believers will be “raptured.”  The Washington Post reports on Camping and his millennialist movement in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Modern Europe, History of Violence, Religious Violence, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment