Gaius Julius Caesar was seemingly a “benevolent dictator,” wasn’t he? He was what Rome needed after nearly a century of strife. Despite Caesar’s pompous attitude, assassination is never justified. His compassion, expansion of the Senate, and strict adherence to elections for plebian office demonstrated a desire to serve the people of Rome and not merely…
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The Sicilian Slave Revolts of Ancient Rome
What we can learn from the Servile Wars The slave revolts or First and Second Servile Wars in Sicily during the 130s BC and again in 104 BC were widespread and brutal. Sicily had become a vital agricultural colony for the Roman Republic following the Punic Wars. As such, many Romans and Italians owned property there and…
Is There a Distinctive American Way of War?
The United States has no Single Way of War This is a historiography for the masses article In his landmark book, The American Way of War, Russell Weigley argues that there is, in fact, a distinctly American method of waging war. Weigley examines American strategic thought and finds a strategic culture predicated on pursuing war through Hans…
Tips for Student Veterans on Campus
How to find success in a new environment Choosing the right school can be daunting for anyone, especially for those leaving the military. Why does it matter what you study and where you do it? Just get a degree and move out into the world, right? The military, in the enlisted ranks, tends to view…
Is the United States an Empire?
Lets see what these prominent historians think Despite national myth to the contrary, during the long 19th century the United States engaged in imperial expansion. American imperial ambitions manifest themselves in expanding across the North American continent, obtaining overseas holdings, and influencing other nation-states through economic or military action. From its earliest westward expansion shortly…
The Mad King Cleomenes
Well before the events that spawned the film 300, Cleomenes I reigned over Sparta. He is one of the most interesting characters in Spartan history. He reigned in Sparta from 524–490 BCE and was succeeded by the famous Leonidas I of Thermopylae fame. A rightful heir to the Spartan throne, he may have never been the best…
The Yakama War
War in Washington Territory More than one hundred sixty years after the ratification of the Walla Walla council’s Treaty of 1855, it is essential to remember the checkered history of conflict and Native American subjugation in the Pacific Northwest. Even in a community that now seems to balance multiple cultures better than most, the history…
Cortes and the Aztecs
How did Cortes subdue the once-great empire? The Conquistador’s desire to explore new worlds, gain political power and win fame and fortune motivated their actions and had a great impact on the New World. Licensed by the Spanish Crown, they endured extreme challenges to search for “The Indies” and its coveted spices. But primarily, it…
The Invasion of Grenada
Showcasing American Power after Vietnam Operation Urgent Fury kicked off on October 25, 1983. Despite no actual threat to national security posed by the small island nation, the Regan administration cited far-fetched dangers as reasons for the invasion. Protecting American citizens by quelling unrest and preventing outside influence in the Western Hemisphere allowed President Ronald Reagan and…
Twin Theories of Sea Power
The two most influential sea power theorists on twentieth-century naval warfare are Alfred Thayer Mahan and Julian S. Corbett. One American, and one British, each heavily influenced the nature of their country’s naval forces in the two world wars. Mahan’s ideas preceded Corbett by two decades. Each, however, argued for the need to control sea…