Tag: Military history

Historical Topics

Jianbi Qingye: The Environmental Warfare of the Taiping Rebellion: Walls of War, Fields of Fire 

Shawn Liu The Taiping Rebellion is infamous for being one of the bloodiest civil wars in history, but it was also an ecological catastrophe. While historian John Fincher has described the conflict as a “heavily saturated topic” in historical scholarship, its ecological dimensions remain strikingly underexplored. Beyond the well-documented clashes of ideologies and armies, another form of destruction took place, one measured not in human … Continue reading Jianbi Qingye: The Environmental Warfare of the Taiping Rebellion: Walls of War, Fields of Fire 

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Historical Topics

Radiation’s Residual Effects on Identity

Theo Bammi The first time John Smitherman witnessed a nuclear explosion, it was pure spectacle. Recounting the story for Studs Terkel’s The Good War, Smitherman recalls that even from his vantage point miles away, the “ball of fire” tearing Bikini Atoll apart on July 1, 1946 was indescribable (Terkel 547). The second explosion, however, was less satisfying. Instead of warmth, Smitherman was pelted with a … Continue reading Radiation’s Residual Effects on Identity

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Historical Topics

On Sweaters and Military Incompetence: The Crimean War Through the Lens of Fall Fashion

Joshua Downes The arrival of Autumn and the changing weather means it is time to unbox our jackets and sweaters and look for our mittens and boots. Yet as we don our vests and fleeces one might wonder where all these different articles of clothing came from. It is perhaps no surprise that much of modern fashion has its roots in military wear. From trench … Continue reading On Sweaters and Military Incompetence: The Crimean War Through the Lens of Fall Fashion

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