What was the most important battle in world history?

Roman Soldier · Jul 23, 2004

What do you think it is?

I would say the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II, as it kept Germany from defeating the Soviet Union and gaining control of its resources, especially the oil.

What's your pick?

oldrooster · Jul 24, 2004

Actually it was Kursk that siginalled the beginning of the end for Germany, Stalingrad could have been recoverd from, Kursk could not...

Real Corona · Jul 24, 2004

I'd say the battle of Agincourt or something of that name. It was when the Christians were able to stop the Muslims from advancing into France.

Another important thing was the death of Ogadai the Mongol leader. Saved Europe from total destruction.

USincognito · Jul 24, 2004

Thermopyle. If the Greeks hadn't stemmed the Persian invasion, civilization as we know it today would never have played out the way it has. It's possible that Persian hegemony could have spread as far as Rome. The worlds dominant religion might be Zoroastrianism.

USincognito · Jul 24, 2004

Real Corona said:
I'd say the battle of Agincourt or something of that name. It was when the Christians were able to stop the Muslims from advancing into France.

Another important thing was the death of Ogadai the Mongol leader. Saved Europe from total destruction.

Agincourt was France and England. I had to do some Googling, but you're thinking of Tours in 732. Good call. I'd toss in Manzikert (1071) and Vienna (1683) as being the other two key battles in the military conflicts between Christendom and Islam.

Ogadai's death was important too. While the Khanate was fracturing a bit as some of the grandsons and grand-nephews of Ghengis were carving out what would be "their" territory, Ogodai was the last Great Khan and his death allowed the Mongols to be too busy fighting each other to continue their westward progression.

TScott · Jul 24, 2004

USincognito said:
Thermopyle. If the Greeks hadn't stemmed the Persian invasion, civilization as we know it today would never have played out the way it has. It's possible that Persian hegemony could have spread as far as Rome. The worlds dominant religion might be Zoroastrianism.

I agree that the world would be a much different place if the Greeks had not turned back the Persian advance, but it was actually the Battle of Salamis. It took place a month or so after the Battle of Thermopylae. Xerxes had decisively defeated the Athenians at Thermopylae. The Athenians fled tothe island of Salamis and it was there that Xerxes Fleet was defeated by the much smaller fleet of the Greeks.

crazy4Christ007 · Jul 24, 2004

Roman Soldier · Jul 24, 2004

USincognito said:
Agincourt was France and England. I had to do some Googling, but you're thinking of Tours in 732.

Yes, this was a very important one, too. Had the Muslims conquered Europe, they would have probably conquered the rest of the world, eventually. Everyone today would be living under an Islamic monachary/dictatorship like Iran or Saudi Arabia.

Agrippa · Jul 24, 2004

My vote goes for Salamis. As Hegel said, "the interest of the world's history hung trembling in the balance. Oriental despotism, a world united under one lord and sovereign, on the one side, and seperate states, insignificant in extent and resources, but animated by free individuality, on the other side, stood front to front in array of battle. Never in history has the superiority of spiritual power over material bulk, and that of no contemptible amount, been made so gloriously manifest."

cartridge · Jul 24, 2004

Trafalgar 1805

Real Corona · Jul 24, 2004

USincognito said:
Agincourt was France and England. I had to do some Googling, but you're thinking of Tours in 732. Good call. I'd toss in Manzikert (1071) and Vienna (1683) as being the other two key battles in the military conflicts between Christendom and Islam.

Ogadai's death was important too. While the Khanate was fracturing a bit as some of the grandsons and grand-nephews of Ghengis were carving out what would be "their" territory, Ogodai was the last Great Khan and his death allowed the Mongols to be too busy fighting each other to continue their westward progression.

Ogadai was more about the Mongols simply massing through Europe and burning the entire continent to the ground. I've read some historians who theorize (remember just theory) that the Mongols are partially responsible for Russia's xenophobia.

Real Corona · Jul 24, 2004

I'll throw Al-Almien in there.

Maybe not the most important of all time. But there's a chance that if Britian lost Egypt Germany could have taken the entire middle east and the Caucaus Mountains would be at his doorstep.

Kripost · Jul 25, 2004

For the mediterranean world and also europe, I would say the battle of zama, where the Carthagnians were defeat. Otherwise we might be using the phrase "all roads lead to Carthage".

DJ_Ghost · Jul 25, 2004

TScott said:
I agree that the world would be a much different place if the Greeks had not turned back the Persian advance, but it was actually the Battle of Salamis. It took place a month or so after the Battle of Thermopylae. Xerxes had decisively defeated the Athenians at Thermopylae.

Clever man that Xerxes, since the Athenians didn't fight at Thermopylae.
The Spartans, Thessalians and Phonicians fought at Thermopylae and the Spartans sent all allies home once they learned they had been betrayed so they could fight again, whilst the Spartans held the pass to buy them time to get away.

Had the Spartans not fought at Thermopylae the Corinthian league would not have had time to assemble their forces to continue the fight, the Athenian fleet would not have had time to assemble properly at Salamis and would have been caught before it was ready by the Persians. Further more, had the Spartans not done what they did at Thermopylae the Corinthian league may well have degenerated back into its petty squabbling, their moral would have been worse and the Pershain moral would have been undamaged. Remember that everyone except the Spartans expected Xerxes to clear the pass in a single afternoon with minimal casualties. The Spartans kept him their for a week, decimated the immortals and inflicted massive casualties that demoralised both Xerxes and his forces.

I think trying to claim either Thermopylae or Salamis as the battle that resulted in the defeat of Xerxes misses the point, both battles taken as a whole were needed to do the job.

Ghost

JohnCJ · Jul 25, 2004

Thermopylae.

TScott · Jul 26, 2004

DJ_Ghost said:
Clever man that Xerxes, since the Athenians didn't fight at Thermopylae.

I consider they did as when the pass was outflanked and the Spartans and Thespians were overrun the Persians sacked Athens at which point the Athenians (and thgeir allies) fled to Salamis.

DJ_Ghost said:
I think trying to claim either Thermopylae or Salamis as the battle that resulted in the defeat of Xerxes misses the point, both battles taken as a whole were needed to do the job.

Ghost

Agreed.

kurabrhm · Jul 26, 2004

Agrippa said:
My vote goes for Salamis. As Hegel said, "the interest of the world's history hung trembling in the balance. Oriental despotism, a world united under one lord and sovereign, on the one side, and seperate states, insignificant in extent and resources, but animated by free individuality, on the other side, stood front to front in array of battle. Never in history has the superiority of spiritual power over material bulk, and that of no contemptible amount, been made so gloriously manifest."

That's a beautiful quote from Hegel!

You deserve a rep for that!!

jayem · Jul 26, 2004

For Christians, one of the most important battles has to be the one fought at the Milvian (or Mulvian) bridge, over the Tiber River in Rome, in 313. Constantine defeated Maxentius to become undisputed emperor of Rome. He believed the God of the Christians aided his victory, and ended state persecution of Christians. Of course, he himself eventually converted and Christianity became the dominant faith in Europe.

Palatka44 · Jul 26, 2004

I'm with Jayem on this issue. However many that latter came to hold the office that Constantine left abused and corrupted their position to the point that Unification was forced on those that did not wish to join the Holy Roman Empire.

Inge87 · Jul 26, 2004

Agincourt was France and England. I had to do some Googling, but you're thinking of Tours in 732. Good call. I'd toss in Manzikert (1071) and Vienna (1683) as being the other two key battles in the military conflicts between Christendom and Islam.

I second that.

What was the most important battle in world history?

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