Dear Friends,
I read a lot, especially archaeology and history books, often compare current events with those of past ages, and try to figure out how our ancestors would have handled a problem or problems that we have today. They survived their age so that we can be here today. History repeats itself and if we don't learn from the past, our future will be in doubt.
When General Patton of World War II fame learned that he was going to Sicily, he read all the ancient authors who wrote about the military history of the island. He found numerous similarities - the same battlefields, time of day and year, the same or similar troop positions and followed the actions of the ancient victorious generals. He never lost a battle.
In medieval times, England and Europe had numerous "Peasant Revolts". Germany had over 60 revolts between 1336 and 1525. And the great "Peasant Revolt of 1381" led by Wat Tyler and John Ball in England makes very interesting reading. Some of these revolts were absolutely horrific, beyond comprehension and belief. For example, one nobleman was put on a spit and slowly roasted alive so that he could watch the rape of his wife and the torture of his family, relatives and friends. When he was considered "done", his wife and family were forced to eat his flesh before they were put to death. The anger, frustration and hatred of the peasants was out of control. Were their actions justified? They thought so.
A few centuries later, French royalty and nobility suffered a similar fate, but they were simply, if not humanely, beheaded. And a little more than a century after that, the Russian court and its nobility suffered a similar fate. Look at the Middle East, today...
Historians all agree there were 5 main causes for these revolts: (1) the hugh gap between the rich and the poor, (2)declining income, (3) rising inflation and taxes, (4) famine, plague and war, and (5) religious discontent. Do these causes sound familiar? Are WE heading for a revolt in OUR country?
Thanks, Russ
I read a lot, especially archaeology and history books, often compare current events with those of past ages, and try to figure out how our ancestors would have handled a problem or problems that we have today. They survived their age so that we can be here today. History repeats itself and if we don't learn from the past, our future will be in doubt.
When General Patton of World War II fame learned that he was going to Sicily, he read all the ancient authors who wrote about the military history of the island. He found numerous similarities - the same battlefields, time of day and year, the same or similar troop positions and followed the actions of the ancient victorious generals. He never lost a battle.
In medieval times, England and Europe had numerous "Peasant Revolts". Germany had over 60 revolts between 1336 and 1525. And the great "Peasant Revolt of 1381" led by Wat Tyler and John Ball in England makes very interesting reading. Some of these revolts were absolutely horrific, beyond comprehension and belief. For example, one nobleman was put on a spit and slowly roasted alive so that he could watch the rape of his wife and the torture of his family, relatives and friends. When he was considered "done", his wife and family were forced to eat his flesh before they were put to death. The anger, frustration and hatred of the peasants was out of control. Were their actions justified? They thought so.
A few centuries later, French royalty and nobility suffered a similar fate, but they were simply, if not humanely, beheaded. And a little more than a century after that, the Russian court and its nobility suffered a similar fate. Look at the Middle East, today...
Historians all agree there were 5 main causes for these revolts: (1) the hugh gap between the rich and the poor, (2)declining income, (3) rising inflation and taxes, (4) famine, plague and war, and (5) religious discontent. Do these causes sound familiar? Are WE heading for a revolt in OUR country?
Thanks, Russ
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