How war has influenced ancient, classical and medieval societies

[HoreTore]

Swedes live at home* because they don't have jobs. That's got nothing to do with housing issues.

Anyway, as for instituting conscription:




*those who haven't fled to Oslo to become glorious banana peelers, that is.

[Myth]

First of all, as much as I respect and like Husar, I don't see his counter arguments anywhere. I mostly see a straw man argument. I'm not looking at ancient societies with some idealistic romatnic notion that "everything was better". There is no need to bring in the failings of feudalism, the black plague, highwaymen (who still exist BTW, go us right?). Religion bashing is also there, though I find it funny. IMO it's better for my son to want to fight and die for the glory of Odin like a real man than to become a Scientologist or what other new bullshit they come up with. Gender roles, war etc. - Husar you touch on so many subjects which we STILL haven't fixed, us being so modern and all. Heck, your post outlines 90% of the stuff we argue about today and most of the things which make people get infracted here

Who would kids look up to nowadays? Most of the real alpha men become successful business men or athletes, but they're a small part of the equation. Still, It's better for your kid to admire your nation's greatest boxer or football player. At least he's not a corrupt weasel or bureaucrat. You can't seriosly tell me that hearing "Gee dad, I want to be just like Tony Blair when I grow up" will not make you cringe. Not bashing TB or Britain here, just giving an example (Geroge W. Bush was just too comic to even give as such an example).

Also, I'm not implying that mandatory military service is the panacea to this issue, though I do find a correlation to its removal in 2003 and the increase of youth in our lands that look like this: https://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8366/2950230hr7.jpg

And don't tell me you guys have it better - I see Swedish and German young adults (lol) when they come over to our beaches. It's sad and/or pathetic.

Also, I admire HoreTore's intellect. He keeps finding new and innovative ways to call someone a Nazi. Sieg Heil my friend.

My point was that society offers no real way for our kids to enter the adult life. Unless your dad is a bad enough dude, you've got problems. Heck, even Japan has a better model with their extra curricular (called clubs) and their constant drive for everyone to do their best.

[Papewaio]

Stories have a limited number of particapents so the listener/reader can follow along.

Ancient society stories tend to focus on the heroes, leaders and game changers. They are no more an accurate portrait of life then a Hollywood movie. Spoiler alert there was no magical Golden Fleece. For every Alexander there was a legion of followers. And for every legion there was logistical support from baggage train to smiths to cooks to camp followers.

Believe it or not only a fraction of most societies were ever of the warrior class and plenty of others found adulthood through more constructive means.

Nor is war often won by a lone individuals skill at arms. Most of the time it came down to gold, logistics, patience, cunning and tactics (both brave, cunning and horrific). It's not like the Macedonian pikemen were in any different a position to a modern rifleman. We forget that most of the wars are fought by grunts and for us to comprehend the complexities we simplify them and hang the glory on the leaders.

[HoreTore]

Also, I admire HoreTore's intellect. He keeps finding new and innovative ways to call someone a Nazi. Sieg Heil my friend.

Gentile was not a nazi in any way.