It is not hard to detect almost a sigh of relief amidst the left-wing panic over the supposed attempt by so-called “Christian nationalists” to return American to a more religious time. At just the moment when progressivism is experiencing a political backlash for its anti-Semitic sympathies‚ its opposition to controlled immigration‚ and its costly net-zero agenda‚ the idea that a group of white‚ right-wing extremists are plotting a theocratic revival of the country must seem like … well … a Godsend. [T]he Christian nationalist measures the welfare of a nation by the extent to which its people are allowed to serve God’s will as they understand it. The left’s handwringing over this alleged conspiracy actually dates back to just before Covid. Ever since late 2019‚ America Magazine‚ the Center for American Progress‚ the New Yorker‚ NPR‚ and other liberal opinion makers have been breathlessly reporting every conceivable sign that the Christian right has mobilized to reverse the secular progress made possible by the New Deal and the Great Society. (READ MORE from Lewis Andrews: Fix the Economy and Conservative Values Will Follow) But the paranoia really kicked into high gear last November when the leftist press began claiming that Republican representative Mike Johnson’s ascension to the post of House speaker had been engineered by a secret network of Christian activists. If the election of a seeming unknown comes as a surprise to the larger world‚ the Nation warned its readers‚ it does not to the oil barons and other fundamentalist power brokers on the right: “They’ve been grooming Johnson for this position for many years.” And in a piece for Salon‚ former Playboy White House correspondent Brian Karem declared that the new speaker‚ working secretly with Christian nationalist allies‚ constituted a “bigger threat to America than Hamas could ever be.” More recently‚ we have the December announcement from liberal filmmaker Rob Reiner that his latest documentary‚ tentatively titled “God and Country‚” will be released to theaters in February. Describing his production as a look “at the implications of Christian nationalism‚” Reiner promises audiences it will show “what happens when a faith built on love‚ sacrifice‚ and forgiveness grows political tentacles‚ conflating power‚ money‚ and belief into hyper-nationalism.” The timing of the documentary’s release is likely not a coincidence. Having argued that the Republican party is under the influence of Christian nationalists and having identified the shadowy cabal’s agenda as returning the U.S. to a more explicitly and repressively religious era‚ Democrats clearly plan to hype the joint claims as much as possible before the November elections. The left is right about one thing: Christian nationalism does exist. Which is to say that it always has been‚ and continues to be‚ an important intellectual movement in U.S. history. But for Democrats to suggest that the heirs to this tradition would want to impose a more religious form of government today ignores the fact that even in more religious times Americans never had‚ or wanted‚ such a government. Early American Christians were sufficiently versed in the history of Europe’s Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) to know that any effort to make their Constitution and Bill of Rights overtly theological could well prompt an ugly struggle among the country’s various denominations to dictate the final draft. Even worse‚ it might produce the very kind of European state religion which had prompted so many religious minorities to seek freedom of worship in the New World. That is why‚ for the three centuries from the founding of Harvard until World War I‚ the Protestant clergy running nearly every U.S. college and university never used their influential platforms to advocate for a more overtly Christian government. Down though American history‚ the goal of Christian nationalists has always had much less to do with forcing the state to echo their religious convictions than with minimizing the ways the state might compel them to compromise those convictions. They especially wanted to make it possible for a Christian to serve or to work in government without having to violate his or her faith. The current progressive demonization of Christian nationalism would clearly have baffled those non-Christians in times past. Probably the best-known result of such efforts is the body of law surrounding conscientious objection to war. As far back as the American Revolution‚ states such as Pennsylvania allowed those who believed any killing immoral to avoid joining local militias in return for paying a fine equal to the time they would have spent drilling. During World War I conscientious objectors were permitted to serve the armed forces in noncombatant roles‚ such as ambulance driver‚ and eventually to become either auxiliary farmhands in the U.S. or relief workers in war-torn parts of Europe. (READ MORE: Progressivism Is Aggravating America’s Mental Health Crisis) With the Second World War came the option to join the Civilian Public Service (CPS) as a firefighter‚ mental health worker‚ conservationist‚ or in some other socially needed capacity. Religious civilians who objected to funding combat by buying war bonds were provided alternative savings vehicles. Today‚ the spirit of Christian nationalism is very much alive in events like last October’s sixth annual conference on “Christianity and National Security” in Washington‚ DC. Sponsored by the Institute for Religion and Democracy‚ it brought together Georgetown professor Matthew Kroenig‚ Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs‚ former U.S. Special Envoy J. Peter Pham‚ and other experts to discuss the intersection of Christian ethics and American foreign policy. Among the topics they addressed were how to live one’s faith while representing the U.S. government in a country with different values‚ what policymakers can learn from the Christian concept of a “just war‚” and what individual Americans can do to help other peoples displaced by war. Because of their desire to preserve the believer’s ability to express his or her sense of God’s calling‚ no matter how it may differ from what is most convenient for the state‚ Christian nationalists generally share in social conservatism’s advocacy of small government‚ free markets‚ and traditional morality. But whereas the social conservative tends to stress the need for large institutions to reflect and promote that morality‚ the Christian nationalist places a greater emphasis on the simple freedom to go wherever the spirit leads‚ regardless of what others might believe. Just as the seventeenth-century Puritan radicals understood that everyone’s life has the potential to help incarnate a better — if unforeseeable — world‚ so the Christian nationalist measures the welfare of a nation by the extent to which its people are allowed to serve God’s will as they understand it. A very old idea in American history‚ indeed the one idea that all the early Christian colonies would have either subscribed to or at least respected‚ despite their denominational differences. The current progressive demonization of Christian nationalism would clearly have baffled those non-Christians in times past who understood that the freedoms it created in the U.S. could not only be enjoyed by citizens of all faiths but even guide other countries in how to better reconcile religion and government. When it was learned‚ for example‚ that First Dutch Reformed Church pastor and U.S. Congressman Julius Hawley Seelye would stop in Bombay on his 1872–73 around the-world tour‚ educated Hindus prevailed upon him to deliver a series of lectures which were published widely throughout India. Twenty years later‚ Chicago hosted the World’s Parliament of Religions as the centerpiece of its four-hundred-year anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of the New World‚ in part to satisfy the growing curiosity about Christian nationalism in places as far away as China. The event attracted seven thousand participants representing faiths from every part of the world and was covered for seventeen days on the front pages of U.S. newspapers from coast to coast. In our own time‚ the journal Providence carries on the Christian nationalist tradition of seeking ways to maximize spiritual freedom in the political realm‚ both at home and abroad. Its contributors include journalist Fred Barnes‚ who most famously appeared as a regular panelist on TV’s McLaughlin Group‚ and the Wall Street Journal’s Global Views Columnist‚ Walter Russell Mead. (READ MORE: Meet the Suburban Parents) All this is not to say that Christian nationalism has ever represented some kind of one-world philosophy or followed the Enlightenment tendency to see all religions as the same. Self-declared Christian nationalists are‚ and always were‚ Bible believing followers of Jesus. But unlike their current progressive attackers‚ they have long understood that it is far more dangerous for government to command a better society than to allow its citizens to build it by their own lights. Dr. Andrews is president of the Children’s Educational Opportunity Foundation. His latest book is Living Spiritually in the Material World (Fidelis Books). The post Christian Nationalism Benefits All Americans appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Mercantilism 2.0‚ the economic manifestation of multipolarity‚ is streaking across the geostrategic firmament.  The sun has set on globalization‚ the economic manifestation of a unipolar world order reflecting American primacy.  The transition to a new economic order of the emerging multipolar world is occurring against the backdrop of Cold War 2.0 which has been ushered in by the Ukraine — Russia War.  For those thinking in time‚ Feb. 22‚ 2022 will serve as a useful marker of the tectonic shift in the world’s trajectory. In a decoupling scenario‚ the U.S. would cease buying goods and services from China and instead buy the same or comparable goods and services from India. So‚ what is Mercantilism 2.0?  In its simplest form‚ Mercantilism 2.0 is characterized by trading with friendly countries while avoiding and abstaining from commercial intercourse with unfriendly countries that are viewed as actual or potential national security threats. The driving force of Mercantilism 2.0 is national security‚ which is symbolized by the inextricably intertwined trinity of military security‚ political security‚ and economic security.  The unchanging reality of the economic world is scarcity of resources and unequal endowment of such resources‚ so absolute autarky is an impossibility for a state and‚ therefore‚ resource imbalances must be intermediated through trade among states.  In a multipolar world‚ such trade is deliberately fragmented and restricted to a subset of friendly states rather than conducted freely among the universe of all states. The core objective of Mercantilism 2.0 is to forge resilient and secure supply chains binding together a group of countries with converging vital national interests and converging perceptions of the threats to such interests. Accordingly‚ the foundation of Mercantilism 2.0 is economic security within the framework of a symbiotic geostrategic ecosystem. (READ MORE: Biden’s ‘Buy American’ Requirement Will Hurt Domestic Broadband Providers) By contrast‚ the driving force of globalization was comparative advantage‚ not national security.  In the erstwhile unipolar world‚ national security was not the determinant of world trade as no other state had accumulated sufficient power to mount a credible challenge to America’s position as the sole superpower with global reach.  With no threats to its national security on the horizon‚ the United States could focus on nurturing economic prosperity reflecting the logic of comparative advantage‚ i.e.‚ exporting goods and services that the U.S. could produce at a lower economic cost than other countries‚ while importing goods and services which could be produced by other countries at a lower economic cost. The end of globalization does not mean the end of world trade — it simply means the end of world trade based on comparative advantage.  Mercantilism 2.0 heralds the reordering and rearrangement of world trade to reflect a new pattern based on national security considerations. Given the recognition that China is likely to be America’s greatest national security threat for the foreseeable future‚ the U.S. would like to counterbalance China by forging a security partnership with India to address the Middle Kingdom’s ambition to be Asia’s hegemon.  Likewise‚ India increasingly views China as its greatest national security threat for the foreseeable future.  So‚ Mercantilism 2.0 would prompt a recalibration and rebalancing of the trading pattern among China‚ India‚ and the United States reflecting geostrategic priorities. Accordingly‚ the U.S. could shift its imports away from China and instead redirect them to India.  Similarly‚ India could shift its imports away from China and redirect them to the U.S.  For example‚ reflecting comparative advantage‚ in 2022 U.S. imports of goods from China amounted to $536.3 billion‚ while U.S. imports of goods from India amounted to only $85.5 billion. Likewise‚ for the comparable period India’s imports of goods from China amounted to $98.5 billion while India’s imports of goods from the U.S. were $50.2 billion. In a decoupling scenario‚ the U.S. would cease buying goods and services from China and instead buy the same or comparable goods and services from India. Similarly‚ India would cease buying goods and services from China and instead buy the same or comparable goods and services from the U.S.  China’s loss would be gains for India and the U.S. respectively‚ but the total amount of world trade would remain the same. (READ MORE: The US Needs Help for Its China Addiction) Enlisting Mercantilism 2.0 as a Cold War 2.0 instrument to resuscitate U.S. primacy as has been suggested by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is likely to be a detour to a dead end. Ultimately‚ the real challenge for America is to shape the transition from unipolarity and globalization to multipolarity and Mercantilism 2.0 with realism and restraint so that it reflects pragmatic flexibility rather than ideological rigidity. Instead of being part of the problem‚ Mercantilism 2.0 can be part of the solution for a modus vivendi that facilitates a pathway from Mutual Assured Destruction to Mutual Assured Survival. Samir Tata is founder and president of International Political Risk Analytics‚ an advisory firm based in Reston‚ Virginia‚ and author of the book‚ Reflections on Grand Strategy (Palgrave Macmillan‚ 2022).  The post Cold War With China Requires Mercantilism 2.0 appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

by Mac Slavo‚ SHTF Plan: ​What Powell Said On January 24th‚ NATO began a drill called Steadfast Defender 2024. One week later‚ I have hardly seen media coverage about it‚ so I want to make sure that you aren’t left out and know exactly what’s happening. Comprised of 90‚000 soldiers‚ 50 ships‚ 1‚100 combat vehicles‚ and […]

by Mike LaChance‚ The Gateway Pundit: Last week‚ insane left wing activists threw soup at the Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre Museum in Paris. This has become a common tactic for climate cultists because it gets them the attention they so clearly can’t live without. It does nothing to advance their cause‚ but that’s not their […]

from BANNED.VIDEO:  TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Peter Schiff‚ Schiff Gold: Amidst rampant peso inflation and his scathing pro-free market speech at Davos‚ new Argentine president Javier Milei has taken office with radical proposals to overhaul the country. While his brief month and a half in Argentina’s Casa Rosada isn’t long enough to know if his bark will really match his bite‚ here’s a […]

In 1891 it was announced that Chicago‚ Illinois‚ had been chosen to host the World’s Columbian Exposition. This was a cultural and social event celebrating the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America.  It would take place from May to October of 1893‚ and likely attract millions of people from all around the world.  As word of this momentous event spread throughout Chicago‚ a man calling himself “H.H. Holmes” saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He knew there would be an influx of visitors searching for lodging near the fairgrounds. They had just completed construction of a three-story high-rise on the corner of South Wallace Avenue and West 63rd Street in Englewood. It was originally intended as a mixed-use building. It would house retail shops on the first‚ offices and apartments on the second‚ and apartments exclusively on the third.  When he heard about the coming of the World’s Fair‚ he told his investors and creditors that he intended to use the entire building as a hotel. He’d make a fortune—and be able to pay off all his debts. Soon after tourists began arriving at the Expo fairgrounds‚ Holmes put his bigger plan into motion. While advertising his hotel in the local newspapers‚ he began working the fairgrounds. He approached women traveling alone or in pairs. Described as charming and charismatic‚ Holmes managed to lure as many as 200 women to his hotel.  Many of whom were never seen again.  Herman Webster Mudgett (1861–1896)‚ better known under the alias of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes. Between mid 1880s and early 1890s Dark Beginnings Herman Webster Mudgett was born on May 16‚ 1861‚ in Gilmanton‚ New Hampshire.  The future “H.H. Holmes” was the third child born to Levi Horton Mudgett and Theodate Page (née Price). They were both descended from the first English immigrants to settle in that part of the country; and both pious Methodists.  Mudgett’s father was from a respected farming family. At various times‚ he worked as a farmer‚ trader‚ and house painter. His mother‚ prior to marriage‚ was a teacher. Although little is known about the early years of Mudgett’s life‚ there are a number of stories associated with him. If true‚ they would seem to provide insight into the man who transformed himself in “H.H. Holmes.”  Mudgett was born into what most would consider an affluent family. He lived a privileged life with few responsibilities. Due to his family’s devout Methodist background‚ his parents demanded absolute obedience from all their children.  His father is said to have been a strict disciplinarian who drank heavily and often physically abused his family. His mother was “cold and distant.” According to one source‚ his father would hold kerosene-soaked rags over the children’s mouths to quiet them when they cried. Showing signs of superior intelligence from an early age‚ Mudgett was resented by children his age. He was frequently the victim of bullying.  According to Mudgett’s own account‚ on one occasion his classmates dragged him into an unlocked doctor’s office they passed on their way to school. They forced him to stand face-to-face with a skeleton.  Years later‚ Mudgett would say of this event‚ “It was a wicked and dangerous thing to do to a child of tender years and health‚ but it proved an heroic method of treatment‚ destined ultimately to cure me of my fears‚ and to inculcate in me‚ first‚ a strong feeling of curiosity‚ and‚ later‚ a desire to learn‚ which resulted years afterwards in my adopting medicine as a profession.” Early Signs Mudgett was continually targeted by his parents and neighborhood children. He chose to spend much of his time alone‚ taking refuge in the forest near his home.  This is where he is said to have trapped and dissected animals‚ and developed an obsession with death. At age 11‚ Mudgett‚ reportedly‚ was suspected of killing a neighborhood boy who’d mysteriously disappeared. Added to this‚ while still a young boy‚ Mudgett’s mother developed a terminal illness that completely devastated family stability. Some speculate that she suffered a mental disorder that may have been passed on to her son. This was perhaps the underlying cause for the psychotic behavior he would display throughout life. Education As a boy‚ Mudgett attended Gilmanton Academy. He was later remembered as a “small‚ odd‚ but unusually bright boy.”  Mudgett then attended Phillips Exeter Academy‚ graduating with honors at age 17. Just after graduation‚ Mudgett changed his name to Henry Howard Holmes‚ and in later life only used the moniker‚ “H.H. Holmes.” Holmes studied medicine for a short time at a small school in Vermont before being accepted into the University of Michigan Medical School. While a medical student‚ Holmes perpetrated what is thought to be the first in a long line of schemes based on his growing fascination with death. Holmes is known to have robbed graves and morgues for bodies to study‚ dissect‚ and sell to medical schools. He then turned his fascination into a money-making scheme. He would steal cadavers (which he would burn or in other ways disfigure to make them unidentifiable) and then plant them so that it would appear they’d been killed in an accident. But prior to planting the bodies‚ he’d take out life insurance policies on these individuals‚ naming himself the beneficiary.  Once the bodies were discovered‚ he’d collect the benefits.  Marriage #1 On July 4‚ 1878‚ just after graduating high school‚ the 17-year-old Holmes married Clara Lovering. She was the daughter of a wealthy farmer from Alton‚ New Hampshire.  He was known to have been physically violent with Clara. He would later desert her after just one year of marriage. They had a child together‚ a son they named Robert‚ born on February 3‚ 1880.  Before deserting Clara‚ Holmes scammed enough of her inheritance to attend medical school. Crime and Career  After graduating from medical school in 1884‚ Holmes moved to Mooers‚ New York.  Shortly afterward‚ a rumor spread that he’d been seen with a little boy who subsequently disappeared. When questioned by authorities‚ Holmes claimed the boy’s family moved back to their home in Massachusetts. With no other leads‚ the investigation was dropped. Leaving Mooers immediately‚ Holmes made his way to Philadelphia‚ Pennsylvania. There‚ he was hired as an attendant at the Norristown State Hospital; a job he quit after just a few days.  He was then hired at a drugstore—where just a short time later he was questioned about the death of a boy who’d died after taking medicine purchased at that store. Holmes denied any involvement in the child’s death and immediately left Philadelphia.  Dr. Henry H. Holmes By 1885‚ Holmes had made his way to Chicago‚ Illinois. Misrepresenting himself as “Dr.” Henry H. Holmes‚ he was hired as a pharmacist apprentice at a neighborhood pharmacy in Englewood. When the owner of the drugstore unexpectedly passed away a short time later‚ Holmes convinced his widow to let him buy the store. Weeks later‚ the widow went missing and was never heard from again.  Holmes claimed she moved to California‚ but there was no evidence of that. “The Castle” and Marriage #2 Once Holmes became the legal owner of the drugstore‚ he set his sights on purchasing the empty lot across the street. He used his drugstore as leverage to convince bankers to extend sizable loans. He also persuaded local businessmen to invest heavily in a two-story building that would provide retail space for new businesses on the first floor‚ and apartments or office space on the second. The building would be in a prime location so he had no trouble attracting interested parties. In late 1886‚ while still legally married to Clara‚ Holmes married 24-year-old Myrta Belknap‚ in Minneapolis‚ Minnesota. He filed for divorce from Clara a few weeks later–alleging infidelity and abandonment.  Documents show that Clara was never served divorce papers and their was divorce never finalized. Holmes had one child with Myrta‚ a daughter they named Lucy Theodate Holmes‚ born on July 4‚ 1889. Once construction of the new building began in 1889‚ Holmes hired and fired a series of construction crews. He didn’t want anyone to have a complete picture of what he was actually planning.  By 1890‚ he was being sued by a number of tradesmen for non-payment and breach of contract. But still‚ the work continued. Holmes was able to persuade unsuspecting tradesmen into applying their skills to the project locals were now referring to as “The Castle.”  World’s Fair Hotel‚ better known as H. H. Holmes Castle. When construction was complete in 1891‚ Holmes placed ads in newspapers offering jobs for young women. He advertised “The Castle” as a place of spacious lodging.  Unbeknownst to his wife Clara‚ he also placed ads representing himself as a wealthy businessman looking for a wife.  In 1892‚ Holmes added a third floor to “The Castle” in anticipation of the upcoming World’s Columbian Exposition.  Inside “The Castle” Of the more than 200 guests believed to have checked into “The Castle” during the Expo‚ none who survived apparently had any clue as to the inherent dangers they’d escaped. Unbeknownst to anyone but the madman himself‚ Holmes had designed the building to accommodate the fate he had in mind for his victims. This was even before the announcement of the Expo.  In addition to the many rooms‚ his design included an operating room‚ a torture chamber‚ a mortuary‚ and a room for conducting human experiments.  The guest rooms were arranged in a maze-like fashion. They incorporated corridors leading nowhere‚ concealed passages behind walls‚ sliding panels‚ and secret staircases.  Each room was built with peepholes allowing Holmes to watch his guests. There were trapdoors concealing metal chutes connected to the elaborately-designed torture-chamber-like basement.  According to one report‚ there were huge acid vats in the basement to dissolve his victims’ remains.  After the Expo ended and Holmes’ diabolical murder spree was discovered‚ “The Castle” was renamed by locals for what it actually was: “Murder Castle.” Marriage #3‚ Escape‚ Capture‚ Incarceration  On January 17‚ 1894‚ Holmes married Georgiana Yoke‚ in Denver‚ Colorado. He was still married to both Clara and Myrta.  During this time he befriended a like-minded man named Benjamin Pitezel (who was married and had 3 children). It was with him that Holmes would plot his next scheme. Benjamin Pitezel‚ longtime associate of H. H. Holmes After the World’s Columbian Exposition ended‚ Holmes and Pitezel left Chicago. They were intent on perpetrating an insurance fraud scheme across the country.  Their crime spree ended‚ however‚ in mid-1894. Holmes was arrested for attempting to swindle a St. Louis pharmacy.  While incarcerated‚ Holmes met fellow inmate Marion Hedgepeth‚ with whom he hatched an insurance scam involving faking Benjamin Pitezel’s death.  But once released from prison‚ Holmes decided it was easier to simply kill Pitezel–and his entire family. This resulted in a $10‚000 life insurance payout for Holmes.  Hedgepeth read about Pitezel’s death and realized he’d never see his cut of the money. So he directed authorities to Holmes‚ forcing him to run. In November of that year‚ Holmes was again arrested. This time by Pinkerton detectives in Boston‚ Massachusetts. He was charged with “conspiracy to cheat and defraud” the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company. Found guilty‚ he was sent to Moyamensing Prison in Philadelphia. Clues Leading to Discovery Meanwhile‚ Frank Geyer‚ a Philadelphia police detective was assigned to investigate Holmes (and find the 3 missing Pitezel children).  He discovered the gruesome decomposed bodies of 13-year-old Alice Pitezel and 9-year-old Nellie Pitezel in the cellar of a Toronto‚ Canada‚ house. The house in which Holmes (and his unsuspecting wife) had used as a hideout.  Following the trail‚ Detective Geyer then found a cottage Holmes had rented in Indianapolis‚ Indiana. There‚ he discovered the teeth and bones of 7-year-old Howard Robert Pitezel in the fireplace.  The trail then led to a local pharmacy where Holmes had purchased the drugs used to kill the boy. And also the repair shop where he’d had the knives sharpened that he used to dismember the boy’s body before burning it.  In 1895‚ while still in custody at Moyamensing Prison‚ Holmes was tried and convicted of the Pitezel murders (including the three Pitezel children).  During his trial‚ Holmes went on record as having committed 27 murders. He later told his attorney that he’d actually killed 133 people.  These outrageous claims gained credibility when Chicago Police discovered the remains of approximately 100 bodies scattered throughout “Murder Castle.”  Between the times of Holmes’ arrest and conviction for the Pitezel murders‚ “Murder Castle” was mysteriously destroyed by arson. The fire is believed to have been intentionally set by neighbors wanting to keep the building from becoming a tourist attraction. References biography.com.‚ “H.H. Holmes‚” H.H. Holmes – Childhood‚ Crimes &; Facts (biography.com)  britannica.com.‚ “H.H. Holmes‚” H.H. Holmes | Biography &; Facts | Britannica  pracitcalpie.com.‚ “H.H. Holmes‚” H. H. Holmes (Serial Killer Biography) – Practical Psychology (practicalpie.com)  pbs.org.‚ “World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893‚” https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/chicago-worlds-columbian-exposition-1893/ legendsofamerica.com.‚ “H.H. Holmes and the Murder Castle of Chicago‚” https://www.legendsofamerica.com/h-h-holmes/ biographics.org.‚ “America’s First Serial Killer—H.H.Holmes‚” America’s First Serial Killer – H. H. Holmes – Biographies by Biographics  csp.edu.‚ “H.H. Holmes: One of America’s First Recorded Serial Murderers‚” https://www.csp.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Forensic-Scholars-Today-1.2-H.H.-Holmes-One-of-Americas-First-Recorded-Serial-Murderers.pdfThe post The Dark and Disturbing Life of H.H. Holmes: America’s First Documented Serial Killer first appeared on History Defined.

Some parts of the world have constantly been embroiled in conflict‚ and wars have been going on for millennia. You would think that people would have learned from the casualties and economic losses of all these wars–but no. As long as there is power to grab‚ territories to conquer‚ and resources to control‚ the world is less likely to see peace. And this has been true since ancient times.  Some of the most famous wars in the world were the Punic Wars‚ fought between two superpowers‚ Rome and Carthage. The three Punic wars spanned 118 years and lasted between 264 and 146 Before the Common Era (BCE). These wars also spelled the end of one of the ancient world’s superpowers.  So‚ what happened in the Punic Wars? Let’s find out.  Map showing Rome and Carthage at the start of the Second Punic War and the theatre of the Punic Wars. The Parties: Rome Vs. Carthage To get some perspective on why these wars were being fought‚ let’s first discuss the two parties in these wars: Rome and Carthage. While it seems Rome has always been a superpower‚ it’s not true. Only in the 1st BCE did Rome truly come into its own and showcase its power and influence.  Before that‚ Rome had one great rival- Carthage. Punic was the language of Carthage and ancient Carthage was sometimes referred to as Punic Carthage. And because almost everyone has heard of Rome and a few of Carthage‚ it’s pretty easy to guess which of these superpowers was victorious.  Carthage According to historical accounts‚ Carthage was the most powerful trading city in the Mediterranean between 650 and 146 BCE. It was a vibrant city‚ abundant in economic activities and surrounded by temples‚ markets‚ and wealthy estates.  The seat of the Carthaginian Empire had a lot of power sometime in 200 BCE as it connected to major trading ports and land routes‚ including the following: Greece Phoenicia (modern-day Lebanon) Italy Iberian Peninsula Libya Nubia (region along the Nile River; modern-day northern Sudan and southern Egypt) Part of the reason Carthage became a superpower is because of its location. All Mediterranean trading ships would pass through Sicily and Tunisia‚ where Carthage was located.  The city also knew the power it wielded‚ so it built two large harbors‚ one for trade and the other for warships. It also had large walls to prevent attacks.  But as the Carthaginian Empire grew more powerful and rich‚ Rome became more resentful. But while Carthage was prepared for war‚ too‚ it was not prepared for the power that Rome wielded.  Ruins of ancient Carthage. Carthage National Museum Sicilian Wars Sometimes referred to as the Greco-Punic Wars‚ the Sicilian Wars were a series of battles for control over Sicily and the western Mediterranean between 490 and 340 BCE. On one side was Ancient Carthage‚ and on the other was Greece.  By the 5th century BCE‚ both parties had established colonies and ports within Sicilian coasts. They had the same idea that the more ports they had‚ the more control they got over Sicily.  Several small battles between the two sides ensued for around 150 years. The Carthaginians failed to take over the wanted island.  But as Ancient Carthage was utterly destroyed by the Romans during the culmination of the Punic Wars‚ no record exists of the Sicilian wars from the Carthage point of view. Everything we know about the Sicilian Wars is skewed in favor of the Greeks.  Some seven Sicilian Wars were fought‚ and the Carthaginians tried to invade Sicily three times. After the third invasion attempt‚ the Carthaginians gave up Sicily for good‚ leaving 10‚000 men dead and around 15‚000 as prisoners of Greek Sicily.  Pyrrhic War The Pyrrhic War was between 280 and 275 BCE. It didn’t initially involve Carthaginians as it was a war between the Roman Kingdom and Pyrrhus‚ the Greek monarch of Epirus‚ an ancient kingdom.  Pyrrhus waged the war on behalf of the Greek city of Tarentum in Southern Italy.  Pyrrhus was strategic and won battles against the Romans with his skills and war elephants. However‚ the victories came with heavy losses in terms of manpower and resources.  This meant he could not afford to continue fighting Rome‚ which seemed to have an unlimited army and supplies.  Pyrrhus turned his attention to Sicily‚ where some Carthaginians had bases. He waged several battles in Sicily between 278 and 275 BCE before finally returning to Italy.  Rome The Roman civilization dates back 14‚000 years‚ based on archeological findings in the area. Rome has always been rich in political‚ cultural‚ and social history.  It even has one of the most profound and popular mythologies. Rome was a name and power to be reckoned with and soon threatened Carthaginian power.  One of the reasons the Romans had such a presence was because they weren’t afraid to wage war to establish power over other territories.  The Beginning As mentioned‚ there are almost no surviving manuscripts on the part of the Carthaginians about any aspect of their history. Historian Polybius was considered the most reliable source of the Punic Wars as he provided an unbiased tone.  He was a Greek historian who famously wrote The Histories. It comprises 40 books about the rise of Ancient Rome to power from 264 to 146 BCE.  By 270 BCE‚ Rome and Carthage had been expanding their territories aggressively. Both were already considered Mediterranean superpowers at that time.  At first‚ both recognized the importance of diplomacy‚ and both lived in peace for years. The two were even in cahoots during the Pyrrhic wars‚ with Carthage supporting Rome when it was battling with Pyrrhus.  Sicily proved to be the primary source of conflict between the two. By 264 BCE‚ Carthage became the most powerful entity in the Mediterranean‚ while Rome had been successfully collecting territories at the same time.  Rome had established most of its presence in Italy‚ while Carthage continued to have properties in Sicily. At the time‚ this was considered a Carthaginian province.  But Sicily was an island with two warring cities‚ Syracuse and Messina. Like parents coming to the aid of their children‚ Rome and Carthage went to support different cities‚ and thus‚ prompted the First Punic War.  And so the war that spanned over 43 years started.  The Punic Wars Rome and Carthage faced off in three wars on both land and water. The third one proved so bad that it almost erased Carthage off the map.  First Punic War (264-241 BCE) As Rome had wielded its power in Italy‚ it set its sights on Sicily. It found its chance when the city of Syracuse attacked the city of Messina. Carthage backed Syracuse‚ and Rome came to the aid of Messina. The former allies were now foes.  The sea had always been Carthage’s home‚ so much so that its military harbor had 220 warships at one point. Rome accepted that it could not defeat Carthage on water‚ so while battling with its fellow superpower on Sicilian land‚ Rome continued to build up its navy.  Rome finally scored a victory in the water in 260 BCE in what was referred to as the Victory in Mylae and again in 256 BCE in the Battle of Ecnomus. However‚ focusing so much on the maritime war put Rome at a disadvantage‚ and it lost its invasion of North Africa.  However‚ the Romans continued to win the war at sea. It became decisive enough for them to win the First Punic Wars in 241 BCE‚ with Sicily officially becoming Rome’s first overseas province.  Map of the western Mediterranean Sea in 264 BC‚ focusing on the states involved in the First Punic War Second Punic Wars (218-201 BCE) As they say‚ if at first‚ you don’t succeed‚ dust yourself off and try again. Carthage did just that and tried to face off with Rome once again.  In the 23 years since Rome had decisively triumphed in the First Punic War‚ it also expanded its presence on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. Carthage‚ meanwhile‚ expanded in Spain in 237 BCE.  It was here that the great Carthaginian general‚ Hannibal‚ rose to power.  Hannibal was only six years old when his father‚ Hamilcar Barca‚ suffered the loss of the First Punic War as an army commander. Barca made Hannibal swear a blood oath of eternal hostility against the Romans. So‚ Hannibal grew up hating the Romans.  Meanwhile‚ Barca and other Carthaginians licked their wounds in Spain and mapped out their revenge plan against Rome. At just 26 years old‚ Hannibal became Carthage’s commander-in-chief.  In 218‚ Carthage had already lost its status as a naval power. But it gained a youthful leader inspired by his blood oath to his father.  Hannibal led one of the most daring attacks in history. He assembled an army composed of the Carthaginian military and mercenaries from Spain‚ North Africa‚ and Gaul (modern-day France and some parts of Western Germany and Northern Italy.  Hannibal’s troops‚ which included at least a dozen war elephants‚ trekked through the treacherous Alps to attack Rome in Cannae in 216. The Romans didn’t expect the attack.  From Britannica The elephants smashed enemy lines‚ and the Carthaginians flanked the Romans in all directions.  After winning the battle‚ Hannibal and the Carthaginians settled in Italy for almost 14 years. However‚ during this time‚ Rome also spawned a worthy opponent for Hannibal: Publius Cornelius Scipio.  Scipio waged a war in Spain‚ thinking that Hannibal and his troops would have to leave Italy and protect their home. Hannibal and Scipio finally met at the Battle of Zama (modern-day Tunisia)‚ where Carthage lost in 202.  Carthage gave up all its territories except the ones in Africa‚ which it considered its original home. Hannibal lived in exile.  Rome officially won the Second Punic War in 201.  Third Punic War (149-146 BCE) At this time‚ Carthage was no longer a superpower. However‚ political leader Cato the Elder‚ who was also an excellent orator‚ successfully convinced the Roman Senate that Carthage remained a threat to Rome.  According to historians‚ Cato the Elder famously said: “Carthage must be destroyed!” Indeed‚ it was.  The Third Punic War was the shortest of the Roman-Carthaginian wars‚ as the weak Carthage could no longer withstand a siege. It lasted only three years compared to the 23 years of the First Punic War and 17 years of the Second Punic War.  In 146‚ the Romans started destroying Carthage house by house. The Carthaginians finally surrendered‚ but the 700-year-old city was gone.  The 50‚000 surviving Carthaginians were sold to slavery. The Romans set their sights on new territories and new enemies.  Richard Henry Brockː The siege of Carthage 146 BC – Roman soldiers entering Carthage Is Carthage Truly Gone? A Carthage exists today‚ but it was not THE Carthage.  Carthage is a suburb of Tunis‚ the capital city of Tunisia. A cityscape has since replaced the ancient port city. However‚ efforts continue to dig back into the past and restore the glory of Carthage‚ even just in museums.  The ruins of Ancient Carthage were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The area incidentally overlooks the Punic port‚ the source of Carthage’s power.  Rome may have tried to flatten Carthage to the ground‚ but its spirit has lived on.  “The houses‚ just before the destruction‚ are perfectly preserved. That part of Byrsa Hill is something you have to visit for sure‚” archeologist Stefano Cespa said of the area.  Archeologists continue to discover remnants of Ancient Carthage to learn more of its history from Carthage’s own culture rather than from writings of Roman and Greek historians.  The Tunisian Ministry of Culture‚ in partnership with the European Union‚ aims to restore more Carthaginian sites and open them for tourism. A significant part of the project is the reopening of Carthage National Museum in 2026.  Final Thoughts on the Punic Wars Ancient Roman influences continue to be felt in the modern world. We see them in ancient buildings‚ art‚ science‚ law‚ and literature. There is a reason Rome grew into a superpower — primarily because Romans were skilled‚ smart‚ wily‚ and strong.  On the other hand‚ one can’t help but think along the lines of “what if.” What if it had been Carthage to win the wars? What influence would Carthage have had on our lives had it not fallen to the Romans? The popular opinion seems to be that‚ with Rome’s power‚ Carthage was destined to fall sooner or later. The post Punic Wars: The Fall of the Carthaginian Superpower first appeared on History Defined.