EXPENSIVE WARS IN HISTORY
Added on: 14th Nov 2015
WAR ON TERROR
Including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, this fight has cost the
nations involved a significant amount. In fact, in pure dollar terms
some economists have argued that it is one of the most expensive
wars to date. It cost the U.S. alone more than $1.6 trillion through 2010.
MEXICAN REVOLUTION
Involving several sides, this armed conflict has been characterized as
one of the greatest upheavals of the 20th century.
PANTHAY REBELLION
The rebellion of Hui people in China had far reaching effects that
rippled throughout the entire region and crippled economies not
just locally but also in neighbouring nations.
GALLIC WARS
Fought by Julius Caesar, these wars included several costly military
campaigns that led to Caesar becoming the sole ruler of the
Roman Republic.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
This was hands down the costliest war ever fought on the continent
of North America. In pure monetary terms it cost the modern
equivalent of £53 billion.
COLD WAR
Including the Vietnam War, the Korean War and even the Space Race,
the Cold War was a vast and extremely costly period of armament and
conflict that cost numerous nations quite a lot in the areas of defence
and espionage. To give some hard numbers, the US spent $738 billion
(in 2014 dollars) on the Vietnam War and $341 billion
(in 2014 dollars) on the Korean War.
SUDANESE CIVIL WAR
Disease, famine, and displacement are still felt today from this civil war
that lasted for nearly half of the 20th century. In terms of 2014 dollars,
the last 10 years of war has been estimated to cost the country of
Sudan over $100 billion.
NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR
Leading to massive famines and destruction of infrastructure, the
Nigerian Civil War drew in numerous international players including the
United States and the Soviet Union. The pure financial cost has been
estimated to be somewhere in the billions of dollars.
SHAKA'S CONQUESTS
Shaka has been largely credited as a military genius for revolutionizing
the way the Zulu kingdom fought their battles. Although he managed to
make the Zulus the most powerful tribe in southern Africa, he did so with
an iron fist and brutal warfare was one of his trademarks. The effect of his
military campaigns on the political and social structure is still seen today.
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