History of War7th Grade UBD - Unit 6 – History of War

Intro

In History of War, you will learn about the influence of political boundaries on nations and the interactions between nations.

Also, you will learn about the various types of conflicts that occur and the reasons for those conflicts.

Finally, we will talk about the peacekeeping efforts of nations.

Reach Into Your Background

War has plagued humankind for thousands of years. War go back to the beginning of recorded time and continue into this century. Answer the following questions. Why do you think countries go to war? Do you think political boundaries are factors in wars and other armed conflicts? How do you think wars could be avoided? (5 minutes)

Partner ActivityWork with a

neighbor and compare your answers with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

History of War

Whether fought over resources, land or ideological differences, wars have shaped and reshaped the map of the planet, creating or destroying entire nations.

War reaches as far back as human memory, with nearly every recorded civilization engaging in armed struggles and some in a state of constant warfare.

History of War Early civilizations were established

and maintained primarily with military power: Egypt, Rome, Athens, Sparta and the Persian Empire, for example, all rose and fell on the strength of their armies.

Modern warfare is characterized by technological innovations from machine guns to nuclear bombs, capable of inflicting damage on a large scale.

Warriors and Generals Immortalized in legends,

textbooks and films, warriors and generals who led their nations into battle are an integral part of military history.

Ancient literature recounts the stories of legendary warriors like while many rulers of ancient times like Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, served as commanders on the front lines.

Warriors and Generals

More recent conflicts have typically been fought by professional armies and supervised by generals with formal military training.

During the American Civil War, for instance, nearly 900 graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point served in the Union or Confederate army.

Warriors and Generals

Victorious military commanders have often gone on to successful political careers, including George Washington, who led the Continental Army during the American Revolution before becoming the new nation’s first president.

Weapons of War

From primitive spears to cutting-edge smart bombs, humans have been developing increasingly sophisticated weapons throughout history.

During the Neolithic era, primitive tools gave rise to the first daggers and swords.

Weapons of War

The invention of gunpowder—believed to have occurred in China in the ninth century transformed warfare, paving the way for lethal weapons such as guns, rockets and cannons.

Weapons of War

The American Civil War, took place at the height of the Industrial Revolution, helped in numerous military innovations, including the repeating rifle and the Minié ball.

The introduction of widespread railroads around this time also allowed for the large-scale movement of troops.

Weapons of War

During World War I, machine guns, tanks and chemical weapons were unleashed on the battlefields of Europe.

Three decades later, World War II witnessed the birth of the atomic bomb, which marked the beginning of the nuclear age.

In recent years, keeping casualties to a minimum through targeted weapons and unmanned aircraft has become an important goal of many combat missions.

Women and War

Often triggering eras of social upheaval, wars have indirectly opened up opportunities for marginalized groups, including women.

Although many nations still bar them from participating in combat duties, women have served their countries during numerous major conflicts.

Women and War

Women such as Florence Nightingale faced the horrors of war to treat wounded soldiers, and in doing so established nursing as a profession.

During World War II, 350,000 American women joined the war effort at home and abroad in more than 200 different non-combatant positions.

Rosie The RiveterVideo- Rosie The Riveter by The Four Vagabonds

Women and War Women in the Soviet Union took an

even more active role in World War II, serving as combat soldiers, aviators and guerilla fighters.

Today there are more than 400,000 women in the U.S. Armed Forces.

In 2008 Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody became the first woman to achieve the U.S. Army rank of four-star general.

Reading HandoutReading Handout- World War I

Reading HandoutReading Handout- World War II

Political Boundaries and Their Effects

Political boundaries are used to form a variety of political entities and affect the relationship between those places. Borders are used to define the limits of individual

countries or regions. There are three types of borders: political, physical, and

cultural. There are generally three types of border controls:

open, controlled, and closed.

Why Does It Matter?

Borders affect the laws and customs in an area. Travelers and immigrants need to be aware of the types of borders they will be crossing to enter other countries.

Causes of Conflict

Conflicts between and within countries can result for a number of different reasons. Wars are often fought over scarce resources like oil or

water. Some wars are fought over ideological or religious

differences. Some wars are fought by countries defending against

invasion. Most wars result from a combination of motives.

Why Does It Matter

Wars often have complicated origins that require creative ideas to solve.

Political Conflicts and Peacekeeping Efforts

Political conflicts such as war are caused by a variety of reasons. Also, nations use various methods to achieve peace between countries. An alliance is a formal agreement between two or more

countries. Nations also form alliances for economic reasons, such as

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). An intergovernmental organization is a group with members

that represent the governments of various nations.

Why Does It Matter?

Because war is a constant problem in the world, it is important to know why nations go to war to help prevent it from happening.

Also, it is important to know how diplomacy and intergovernmental organizations can help to achieve peaceful solutions.

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity Work with a

neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)