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Battle of Lützen
Battle of the Thirty Year's War won by the Swedes. Painting showcases the weapons of the time - small guns and what seem to be bladed weapons. Soldiers also appear to participate in the violence on horseback. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Once the Declaration was put in place in French society, men went from subjects to citizens - gaining rights and duties. Effectively this altered the nature of warfare. By getting the right to vote, frenchmen now had the duty to go to war for their country. This created a shift, armies went from being professionally staffed to being citizen-led. -
Battle of Sinope
The painting represents the battle of Sinope, fought in the Black sea between Russians and Ottomans. This battle is important in the context of the Industrial Revolution. Because the Russian fleet was comprised of battleships that were steam powered, they completely obliterated the Ottomans who had sail powered ships. This battle shows the importance of the steam engine in the context of warfare and how it becomes more and more important and prevalent during the industrial revolution period. -
Soldier Letter WWI
In this letter, Sergeant William Hastings described the horrors of trench warfare to a friend back home. He explains how big the bombs are and how close they come to the trenches. One would think being inside a semi underground tunnel would be safe, but it was actually not safe at all. This letter perfectly encapsulates the lives of the soldiers that were the first line of defense. -
Germans attack London via Blitzkrieg
The German military tactic of "lighting strike" almost destroyed London at the beginning of WW2. The image shows London's famous London Bridge being surrounded by smoke and destruction caused by the Germans. This image is sort of a foreshadowing for the horror and destruction that was Europe was about to be plunged into. The photo also highlights the relentless violence the Germans would employ during the war - destroying the capital of one of the most powerful countries on the planet.